Chapter 124

Chapter 124

When they returned from Wan'gou Village, it was already late in the day. Families in the village were starting to make dinner, and smoke rose slowly from their chimneys.

As they arrived at the front gate of their home, Second Brother and Ge Changbao were building a fire pit in the yard, preparing to roast meat.

There were still two hind legs of pork left, and if they weren’t cooked soon, the meat would spoil. They decided to roast it.

Lu Miao and Lu Yun had pulled some scallions and garlic from a neighbor's vegetable garden. After washing and chopping them, they smeared the mixture over the meat for marination.

Seeing this, Lu Yao said, "This method won't let the flavors penetrate the meat. Let's try a different way of eating."

"Third Brother, you're back!" Lu Miao said happily. "We were waiting for you two. Tell us how we should eat it."

"I remember we have a large stone slab that covers the water jar at home."

Lu Yun said, "Yes, it's in the storage shed. This morning, when Second Brother was fixing the fence, I saw it while looking for a rope."

"Get them to move the slab out, clean it, and set up a makeshift stove."

Lu Yun and Lu Miao were unsure what this was for. Lu Yao smiled and said, "I'll make you a stone slab barbecue. Go quickly!"

"Yes!" Lu Miao ran out and called Ge Changbao and Third Brother's husband to move the slab.

When they got to the storage shed, without even needing Ge the Officer's help, Zhao Beichuan lifted the slab weighing over sixty jin by himself.

Seeing the slab, Lu Lin smiled. "Hey, this slab was found by me and Father on the mountain."

Lu Miao asked, "What did you need this slab for?"

"At that time, Lu Yao was making tofu and asked Father to make a small stone mill. We went to pick stones on the mountain, and we happened to come across this one. It was so flat, like a cutting board, so we brought it back."

Mentioning the tofu-making, Zhao Beichuan couldn't help but talk more. "The small stone mill Father made was very handy. We used it for a long time, but later, when we went to Prefecture City, the journey was too long, so we left it in Qiushui Town."

Lu Lin said, "We also have a small stone mill at home, made by Father back then. It's still kept, and if you want to eat tofu tomorrow, I'll brush it off and grind some for you."

Ge Changbao asked, "How come all of you know how to make tofu? Is it a skill passed down in the Lu family?"

"This tofu was invented by Lu Yao!"

As Zhao Beichuan began to recount their family's history, Ge Changbao was astonished, and Wang Youtian was hearing these stories for the first time, finding them quite fascinating.

Inside the house, Lu Yao and Xiaochun had almost finished cutting the meat. They mixed it again with garlic and scallions, sprinkled salt and brought cumin powder, and carried it outside to start grilling.

Lu Lin said, "Lu Yao, you're just in time. Does this stove setup look alright?"

Lu Yao said, "Yes, start a fire under the pit."

Soon, the water on the slab dried up, forming a layer of white alkaline frost. Lu Yao took out the prepared pork fat and placed it on the slab to roast.

"Sizzle..." The oil soon flowed out, and the aroma made everyone's mouths water.

Lu Yao used chopsticks to rub the pork fat all over the slab. The oil-soaked slab darkened instantly, gleaming under the firelight.

"Go ahead, use your chopsticks to grill the meat yourselves."

Lu Miao picked up his chopsticks and asked, "How should we grill it? Just place the meat on the slab?"

"Spread the meat out, and when both sides change color, it's ready to eat."

The adults picked up their chopsticks and began grilling their own meat. The children were kept at a distance for fear of getting burned. They sat nearby with their bowls, waiting.

Soon, the first batch of grilled meat was ready. Everyone tasted it.

Zhao Beichuan gave a thumbs up. "Delicious! If this were served in a restaurant, customers would love it."

Lu Yao waved his hand. "It's too much trouble. Maybe another time."

Ge Changbao grilled the first slice of meat but didn't eat it himself. He blew on it and placed it in his son's bowl. "Eat."

The preparation for this barbecue was hasty, and they hadn’t had time to prepare dipping sauces or vegetables, which would have made it even better. Lu Yao ate over a dozen pieces before feeling too greasy to continue.

The others didn’t mind. It was their first time eating this way, and they found it novel and interesting.

Zhao Beichuan opened a jar of wine, and the men each poured a bowl, the atmosphere growing livelier as they ate and drank.

The children were given only a little meat since eating too much at night could cause indigestion. Lu Yun cooked a pot of soup noodles for them, and after eating a small bowl each, they went inside to play.

Ge Changbao began telling stories about his time at the frontier, and the men were all ears. Especially when he spoke of the city assault from years ago, they were so engrossed they forgot to eat.

"I remember that day when dark clouds pressed down on the city, and the wind at the frontier was so strong it hurt our faces. In the second month, heavy snow fell. I led seven thousand soldiers, following General Liang Chuang on a mission to launch a surprise attack on the south gate of the county."

"Coincidentally, the barbarians had stationed a battalion of soldiers at the south gate that day. They were armed with large bows that could shoot arrows from the city walls. It was like the King of Hell calling your name; whoever was targeted would die."

"But there was no choice. If we didn’t charge forward, the northern gate couldn’t be attacked, so we had to grit our teeth and push inside! Under the rain of arrows, we finally broke through the gate. By then, I had been hit by an arrow in the shoulder. It was only two inches away from my neck. If it had been a little off, it would have pierced through."

"But at the time, I didn’t feel a thing. I was still holding my blade, fighting the barbarians!"

Everyone gasped, and Lu Miao, recalling the scar on his shoulder that had only recently healed after he got married, felt a pang in her chest.

"Later, the main army broke in from the north, and together we encircled and annihilated the barbarians!"

"Well done!" A few men clapped their hands in approval.

Ge Changbao took a sip of wine. "Speaking of these barbarians, both Da Chuan and Youtian have seen them. These people have no humanity."

Zhao Beichuan and Wang Youtian nodded. They still vividly remembered the corvée labor from those years.

"They haven’t been civilized by the Central Plains teachings and don’t understand human ethics. They are like beasts. To them, human lives aren’t precious. They see people from the Central Plains as pigs and dogs that can be killed at will."

The three counties that were occupied by them had barely one or two survivors out of every ten. The men were brutally killed, the children were boiled and eaten, and the women were treated as toys for sexual amusement. When we stormed the city, we saw more than a thousand people stripped of their clothes and doused with cold water at the town hall entrance, left to freeze to death. There were another six or seven... children being boiled in the pot next to them."

It was truly like a living hell, and even today, Ge Changbao can't help but shudder when he recalls it.

The others listening had their eyes red with anger. These barbaric people truly deserved death!

They chatted late into the night until Lu Miao came out to urge them to pack up and rest.

*

Life in the countryside was peaceful and joyful.

Especially for the children, who had never climbed trees or caught fish and shrimp when they were in Prefecture City. This time, they had learned it all.

As the eldest brother, Xiao Stone led his younger siblings to run outside every day.

They would leave in the morning all clean and come back covered in mud by noon, earning themselves a few slaps for sure.

In the blink of an eye, they had been in the village for six or seven days. Wang Youtian was getting a bit restless. In a few more days, they would have to return to Prefecture City, but they hadn't yet decided whether to go or not.

If they were to go, preparations needed to be made in advance. If not, he would have to find a way to persuade his parents again.

Lu Yun really didn't want to go back. The sight of his two sisters-in-law gave him a headache, but this matter couldn't be delayed. If they didn't take his mother-in-law and father-in-law this time, who knew how many years it would be before they returned.

With the elders getting older and their health deteriorating, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to see them one last time. His husband would regret it for the rest of his life.

Lu Yao, understanding his dilemma, said, "Don't worry, Da Chuan and I will accompany you."

"Thank you, Third Brother."

Lu Yao, visibly annoyed, slapped him on the shoulder. "Don't be so polite with me."

Lu Yun couldn't help but laugh. "Third Brother, just now, your expression was exactly like our mother's."

"I was born from Mother, so if I don't resemble her, who should I resemble?" Lu Yao couldn't help but laugh too, signaling Zhao Beichuan to bring some fabric and food. They couldn't visit the Wangs empty-handed.

After packing everything up, they drove two carts toward the village.

Along the way, Lu Miao kept advising his husband, "Don't worry about your parents. Later, whatever Third Brother says, we'll just listen. He definitely won't harm us."

"I understand." Wang Youtian's virtue was that he was honest and willing to listen, especially to Second Brother Lu and Third Brother Lu. Otherwise, the two families wouldn't have managed the restaurant together for years without any conflicts.

Sometimes, being aware of one's own shortcomings is a virtue in itself, unlike those who know nothing but have plenty of opinions.

Returning to Willow Village, they parked the carts in the yard.

These past few days, because Li had just given birth, the main and second households had temporarily ceased their conflicts. However, Guo still harbored resentment for the insults and spent her days sharpening scissors by the window.

There was a local saying that sharpening scissors during the postpartum period would result in an unpromising child.

Li, finding the sound extremely irritating, would curse from the kang while nursing her baby.

When Lu Yao and the others arrived, this was the scene they witnessed.

Guo, recognizing Lu Yao and knowing he was not someone to be trifled with, quickly put away her scissors and hid inside the house.

In the main room, Old Lady Wang was altering clothes for the newly born fourth child, using old fabric. Hearing the sound of the carts in the yard, she knew that her third son and the others had returned and immediately put down her needlework to come out.

"Hello, Auntie." Lu Yao carried several boxes of pastries as he approached.

"You... you are Third Brother Lu Yun, right? Come in, quickly!" The old lady quickly ushered the guests inside.

Behind them, Wang Youtian and Lu Yun also led the two children into the house. "Where's Father?"

"He just went out; I'm not sure what to do. I'll go find him." The old lady put on her shoes and went out.

Zhao Beichuan said, "Auntie's legs are quite nimble."

Wang Youtian nodded. "Both our parents are in good health."

Lu Yao tugged at Lu Yun's arm, signaling him to take the fabric to both households.

Lu Yun, reluctant to go, was dragged by Lu Yao to Second Brother Li's room.

Li hadn't expected them to visit and hurriedly pulled her clothes straight, placing the child on the kang. "Lu Yun is here... and Third Brother."

"Don't get off the kang. Just stay there."

Li, confused, looked at the two of them suspiciously.

"We're here just to visit and check on the child," Lu Yao paused. "What happened in the past is over. After all, we're family. Even if bones are broken, the tendons remain connected."

Li immediately understood. This visit from Third Brother Lu was to mediate. She quickly took the opportunity to agree. "Exactly. You two brothers, Youcai and Youtian, have always been close. It's just that over the years, with less contact, things have become estranged."

Lu Yao nodded. "Now they're working with me. Although the earnings aren't much, life is better than yours. So, we thought of bringing the elders to Prefecture City for their old age, which would also ease your burden."

Li nodded in agreement. "The elders are old, and they can't do farm work anymore. It would indeed be a blessing for them to go to Prefecture City, but... we'd miss them. If something happens and they're far away, we might not make it in time."

Lu Yao understood her implication but didn't address it directly. "You're right. It depends on what the elders want. If they really don't want to go, we can't force them. We'll just have to visit more often."

Li, anxious, said, "How can that work? They should go. I wonder if there's any work we can do in Prefecture City... We can help out together."

Lu Yun, infuriated, was about to scold her when Lu Yao immediately grabbed his hand. "There's enough staff at the restaurant now. If you go, at most, you'll be hired as laborers. The wages might be a bit higher than in town, but the expenses in Prefecture City are also high. Besides, you've just given birth and have such a young child. Relying solely on Second Brother Wang won't be sustainable."

"There's still Lu Yun and Youtian." Li said, feeling a bit embarrassed afterward.

Lu Yao was amused and slightly angered. "Why should Lu Yun and Youtian support you? Why should they?"

"That's true, but even between brothers, accounts should be clearly settled. You're also brothers with the people from the main house; why don't you ask them for money?"

Li Shi was rendered speechless by the retort.

"I came here to tell you that going to the Prefecture City is definitely out of the question. If you agree to stay here and behave, I'll give you a recipe for a food stall, which will ensure you have enough food and clothing in the town. If you don't agree, that's fine too. You'll have to take care of the elderly yourselves, and You Tian and Lu Yun will remain in the Prefecture City and won't come back." Lu Yao shifted his tone, "If you agree, we'll take care of everything."

Li Shi was stunned and stammered, "Then… I'll discuss it with You Cai when he returns..."

Lu Yao rose with a sardonic smile and placed the fabric on the kang, "Get the children some new clothes."

After they left, Li Shi clutched her chest and peeked outside. After not seeing him for years, Third Brother Lu from the Lu family had become even more intimidating, his presence suffocating her.

After leaving the second house, they took some items to the main house.

Guo Shi was a simpleton and had been scolded by Lu Yao before. When they met, she didn't even bother to pretend, pulling a long face and asking, "What do you want in my room?"

Lu Yao wasn't annoyed and smiled, "Haven't seen you for years, just came to visit Big Sister-in-law."

One shouldn't hit someone who offers a smile, so Guo Shi didn't kick them out. She even washed some wild berries picked from the field for them to eat.

Lu Yao knew these were wild raspberries, hard to pick from the bushes, and ate them without hesitation.

"We have another matter to discuss with you. My brother and I plan to take the old man and lady to the Prefecture City."

"Go ahead." Wang You Tian had mentioned it to her, and she didn't care. The two were too old to work, and taking them would save her the effort.

"Good that you agree. These two pieces of fabric are for your nieces to make some clothes." Lu Yao and Lu Yun put down the fabric and snacks.

Guo Shi saw them out and immediately closed the door, spreading the fabric on the kang.

Muttering to herself, "Tsk, tsk, things brought back from the Prefecture City are indeed nice. Although Lu the Third is detestable, he's quite generous."

Returning to the old man's room, Old Man Wang had come back and greeted Lu Yao with a smile.

Lu Yao remembered him. When Da Chuan went for corvée labor, the family's Dahua fell ill, and he had helped treat her.

"Uncle Wang, how's your health?"

"Good, still strong!" The old man had a good spirit, his voice full of vigor, indicating a long life.

Zhao Beichuan said, "I just discussed with Uncle Wang about going to the Prefecture City. He's still worried about the house and doesn't plan to go."

"That won't do. You don't know how much work in the Prefecture City needs you!"

Wang Gou smiled, "At my age, what can I do?"

"You know how to treat horses, don't you? My fifth brother's husband is a lieutenant in the Zhenbei Army. They have rough horse care and desperately need someone experienced to guide them!"

"Really?" Old Man Wang sat up straight. He had been to the battlefield and learned this skill from his master. He always missed those days.

"Of course. If you don't believe me, ask You Tian."

Wang You Tian nodded, "Lu Miao's husband is a lieutenant in the Zhenbei Army."

"Heavens..." Both Old Man Wang and Old Lady Wang were astonished.

Lu Yao continued, "Auntie, you'll have work too. You must help look after Jin Zi and Yin Zi. You don't know how chaotic the Prefecture City is! When I first took Xiaonian and Xiaodou there, they almost got kidnapped. We were terrified and only found them through connections. If we had been a step late, they might have been sold off."

Hearing this, Old Lady Wang immediately decided, "I must go to the Prefecture City to watch the children. If you don't want to go, stay behind, but don't lose my Jin Zi and Yin Zi."

Old Man Wang said, "If we all go, what about the eldest and second sons? Should we just let their families fall into disarray?"

Lu Yao said, "Don't worry about them. Tomorrow, let Lu Yun teach the second house how to make cold noodles. If done well, they can open a small food stall in the town and earn a few guan each month."

Wang You Tian said, "What about the eldest brother's family?"

"Leave the land for them to farm. With so much land and houses, they can recruit two men to marry into the family, and their future will be prosperous."

Lu Yun thought this would please the eldest daughter-in-law, allowing her to farm the land as she wished.

The matter had to be discussed with the Wang brothers. At noon, when Wang You Cai and Wang You Tian returned, Wang Gou explained the situation to both families and asked for their agreement.

Wang You Tian was naturally willing; he had no intention of going to the Prefecture City. If the second house moved to the town, it would be even better. With dozens of acres of land and many rooms, recruiting two men to marry into the family would ensure a good life.

Wang You Cai also agreed but was concerned about setting up the stall and whether the cold noodles would sell.

Wang You Tian said, "Second Brother, don't worry. Cold noodles, if made properly, will sell. We sell over three hundred bowls daily in the Prefecture City. In the town, with fewer people, selling fifty bowls a day should be possible. Selling each bowl for eight wen, after rent and costs, you can earn one to two hundred wen a day."

Hearing this, Wang You Cai's eyes lit up. Calculating this way, doing business seemed much better than farming.

"Alright! We'll leave the land to Big Brother. I'll sell cold noodles in the town."