111. Welcoming Loved Ones at Jianglin Ferry

August 25th, in the twenty-fifth year of Taihe.

Emperor Chunde had passed away, but a new monarch had already ascended the throne. With the support of the people and after three earnest petitions, Prince Cheng finally accepted the throne at the Palace of Heavenly Purity, citing his inability to turn away from the hopes of his subjects. He declared the era name Jinghe. In three or four months, the Great Liang would enter the first year of Jinghe.

For Lu Jin, who was far away in Jianglin, none of this mattered. Today, his uncle and aunt would arrive in Jianglin; that was his top priority.

The Shen family had sent boats to Shangqing several days prior to assist with the move, as Lu Jin had arranged in his letters. Knowing that from this day forward, he and his closest kin would live together in Jianglin, Lu Jin felt a surge of excitement. This was a significant milestone in his life.

When Lu Jin led Shen Yanxi out of the Shen Garden, he was somewhat taken aback.

"Father, Mother. Xi'er and I could have handled the welcoming ourselves. There was no need to trouble you to come in person," Lu Jin said, rushing forward to greet his parents-in-law, who were already waiting at the gate.

"Jin'er, don't speak of such formalities. Your uncle and aunt are moving their entire household to Jianglin; how could we sit idly by? Hurry, get in the carriage!" said Zhou Manyun. Having learned of the close bond between Lu Jin and his aunt and uncle, she felt completely comfortable addressing them as in-laws.

He understood the sentiment, so Lu Jin said no more. Besides him and his wife, Lu Caiwei and Wu You were also present. The entire family of his father-in-law had turned out. But what was with this line of armed guards?

"You are the treasure of our family now, and Father is worried someone might target you. That is why you must bring more men when you go out," Shen Yanxi explained with a smile.

Lu Jin was speechless.

It was not that he was unaware of the risks his innovations might bring. However, at present, very few people knew that he was about to stir up a storm in the commercial world of the Great Liang. Most were still preoccupied with praising his literary achievements. But this was not the time to discuss such things; receiving his uncle and aunt was far more important.

One carriage after another departed from the Shen estate, heading straight for the Jianglin docks, with house guards flanking them. Passersby assumed someone of great importance was inside, never imagining they were merely there to pick up the uncle and aunt of a son-in-law living in his wife’s home.

Upon reaching the docks, the Shen family’s display was even more intimidating. The guards quickly cordoned off the area, startling the merchants and boatmen who feared they had committed some offense, only to learn they were just there to greet family. It was quite a spectacle for a simple arrival.

"Caiwei, are you planning to complain about me to Aunt and Uncle?" Lu Jin asked, ruffling Lu Caiwei’s hair as they stood on the pier.

"Hmph! I’m going to tell Mother that you bully me every day," she threatened.

"Oh! If it were me, I might just swallow that grievance," Lu Jin sighed.

"Why?" Lu Caiwei asked, confused. She had finally managed to get out today; if she didn't file a complaint, she wouldn't be Lu Caiwei.

"Because complaining is easy, but doubling your training is much harder to endure!" Lu Jin said with a pained expression.

"You..." Lu Caiwei was furious. She understood his meaning perfectly: if she dared to complain today, her training would be doubled tomorrow.

She couldn't fathom what her brother was thinking. Over the past few days, he had required her and the other children not only to study but to undergo military-style training in the afternoons. It was mandatory—what girl had to stand in formation and run under the scorching sun every single day?

Lu Jin had indeed begun military training for the children of the Shen Garden and the refugee children he had taken in, but it was mostly basic drills, and the intensity was moderate. Even if the Great Liang were to fall into chaos, these children wouldn't be needed in the short term, so Lu Jin was in no rush. They would become a new generation of youth who fully embraced his will; he had the patience and the confidence to guide them well.

"As the saying goes, those who understand the times are heroes. Although my Caiwei is a girl, she has always been sharp-witted and strategic. She would never do such an unwise thing!"

Beside him, Lu Caiwei gritted her teeth, secretly plotting how to get her revenge.

"Husband, stop teasing Caiwei. The boat is here," Shen Yanxi said with a smile.

She had watched these children suffer these past few days; even her own brother, Shen Yanlun, was tanned dark. Her mother had tried to stop him, but he refused, vowing to become a great general rather than a good-for-nothing who lived off the family.

Hearing Shen Yanxi, Lu Jin turned to look upstream. Sure enough, two boats were sailing down the river, quickly approaching the pier.

Before the boat even docked, Lu Jin heard a cry from the deck: "My child!"

Lu Jin could barely hold back his tears, which shimmered in his eyes. Aunt, oh Aunt, how fortunate he was to have a mother figure like her.

"Aunt, don't rush, wait until the boat docks..." Lu Jin called out.

After greeting him, his aunt noticed the large crowd on the shore and was momentarily startled, but seeing her son’s calm demeanor, she felt at ease.

As soon as the boat was secured, Lu Jin moved to board, but his aunt was already rushing off the boat toward him. She grabbed him tightly, weeping and inspecting him from head to toe, her mouth never stopping.

"My son, why have you become so thin? Look at how dark you’ve gotten—have you not been eating well? Oh, I told you that you shouldn't have left..."

Shen Yanxi stood nearby, feeling somewhat awkward. *My niece-in-law is here too, do at least look at her,* she thought, *and the Shen family really hasn't mistreated your nephew.*

The parents-in-law looked on with smiles, not in a hurry. They had heard their daughter speak of how well the aunt treated Lu Jin, but seeing this in person, the depth of that affection was clear.

Not to mention Shen Yanxi, even Lu Caiwei felt awkward and hurt. She had expected to be coddled in her mother’s arms, but she hadn't even received a glance.

"Aunt, I’m perfectly fine. It’s just the sun from these past few days. Did you have a tiring journey?" Lu Jin asked, trying to comfort her.

"Thinking of seeing my son, how could I be tired? I wished I had wings to fly here," Baili Rou said, her face filled with tenderness.

"Aunt, from now on, our family will all be in Jianglin. We will never be apart again," Lu Jin smiled.

"Good, good, I’ll listen to whatever my son says." As she spoke, her eyes shifted to Lu Caiwei. "Oh, and who is this dark little girl?"

"Mother!" Lu Caiwei was indignant. Was this really her own mother?

But before her tears could fall, she was pulled into a warm embrace.

"My child, why have you become so dark too!" Baili Rou said softly.

Lu Caiwei froze. Her mother had never forgotten her. Large tears began to fall onto her mother’s chest.

Whatever Lu Caiwei felt, Lu Jin could no longer hold back. He quietly turned away to wipe his eyes.

Though he shared no blood connection with Lu Yuanrong and Baili Rou, he was deeply moved by his aunt’s maternal love. She was the most gentle woman he had ever known, possessing the most selfless heart. A mother's love is like water, and his aunt’s love was wider and deeper than the very waters of the Lan River.

"Xi'er, why have you grown so thin as well?" After fussing over her two children, the aunt turned her concern to her daughter-in-law, leaving Lu Jin no room to interject.

"Aunt, I’m doing very well, I was just looking forward to your arrival," Shen Yanxi smiled.

"I’ve caused you trouble by coming here," the aunt said politely.

"Aunt, you are the mother of my husband and myself; how could it be trouble? Having you and Uncle in Jianglin puts our minds at ease. We can talk often now..."

While his aunt exchanged pleasantries with Shen Yanxi, his uncle, Lu Yuanrong, stepped off the boat. The affection between men was not as outwardly expressive as that of women, but one could see the concern in their eyes.

"Uncle, Aunt, this is my father-in-law, and this is my mother-in-law," Lu Jin interjected. The two families could finally meet.

Lu Yuanrong was startled. His nephew’s father-in-law was the head of the Shen family! He moved to offer a formal bow, but Shen Hao caught his arm. "Brother-in-law, we have been looking forward to your arrival every day. Our family is finally reunited."

"How could I trouble you to come and greet us personally? It would have been enough for Jin'er to come," Lu Yuanrong said politely. He felt a sense of unreality regarding Shen Hao. Even though he had seen the deep affection between his nephew and his wife, he had never dared to expect the Shen family to value the Lu family so highly. But today, in Shen Hao’s smile, he saw genuine sincerity. It seemed his nephew was indeed doing very well in the Shen family.

"Since you have come to Jianglin, as Jin'er’s father-in-law, it is only right that I do this. Please, don't be so formal. Coming here is coming home..." Shen Hao laughed.

Lu Jin introduced his mother-in-law and his aunt, followed by more polite exchanges. Finally, he introduced the younger generation to his uncle and aunt.

"Why is You'er so tanned?" The aunt looked at Wu You with pity. Having a heart of gold, she naturally regarded Wu You as her own child, as he called Lu Jin his older brother.

"Aunt, I am doing well, thank you for your concern..." Wu You replied respectfully.

Once everyone was introduced, the aunt and the mother-in-law, guided by Shen Yanxi, were soon chatting away, unable to stop talking about the children. Small landlords? Great clans? In this moment, they were simply parents concerned for their children.

The head of the Shen family personally urged them to move on, and the group finally boarded the carriages for the Shen estate. The luggage and goods on the boats were left for the Shen servants to handle.

The carriage arrangements were meticulous. The Shen family members took their own, while Lu Jin, his sister, and his uncle and aunt shared one. After months of separation, it was a chance for the family to catch up.

"My son, are the soldiers outside also from the Shen family?" Baili Rou had assumed the troops at the dock were unrelated to them, only to realize they were guarding the carriages.

"Aunt, there have been some water bandits about, and the family is worried about safety, so they sent more men," Lu Jin said, not daring to mention they were primarily there to protect him. He didn't know about his uncle, but his aunt would surely worry.

"I used to worry that you would be mistreated in the Shen family, but today, it seems I was overthinking it," Lu Yuanrong said.

"Don't worry, Uncle. How could a man of the Lu family be mistreated..." Lu Jin boasted.

Lu Caiwei, sitting nearby, felt nothing but disdain. He had been chased by assassins just a few days ago, and now he was bragging. However, she truly admired her brother. She didn't know of any other son-in-law who could be so bold, even leaving his mother-in-law speechless.

"As long as my son is doing well, I am relieved. After talking to Xi'er’s parents just now, I can see they are good people. You must treat them well, and especially treat Xi'er well," his aunt said with relief.

"Mother, my brother treats my sister-in-law as if she were the palm of his hand; how could he treat her any better..." Lu Caiwei began to complain. "He even brought a group of people to recite that 'Phoenix Seeking Phoenix' to her in front of everyone..."

"Mother, you haven't seen the painting he made for her; it’s one of a kind in the world..." Lu Caiwei’s face drooped. Her wretched brother only cared about his wife and completely ignored his sister. What was wrong with painting one for her too? He always made excuses.

Lu Jin felt his face grow hot. In Lu Caiwei’s eyes, he was nothing but a henpecked husband. It wasn't entirely wrong, but she shouldn't say it in front of his uncle and aunt! It seemed his training regimen needed to be increased.

"Didn't I promise you? I'll paint one for you when you turn eighteen," Lu Jin explained. He had never intended to paint for just anyone, and his sister was certainly an exception, but not yet. Oil painting was a time-consuming and exhausting endeavor, and he had far too much on his plate to find the time. Lu Caiwei was just a little "dark boy" right now, still growing. Lu Jin didn't want to waste the effort.

"Hmph! I don't believe you!" she said, adding "wretched brother" in her heart.

Watching the two children bicker, his aunt felt even happier. As the family chatted, they arrived at the Shen estate before long.