Chapter 77: A Casual Chat About Family Affairs

Shangqing County, Xiahe Village.

The next day, Lu Jin brought Shen Yanxi to kneel for a long time before the graves several miles outside the village. The departed were gone; the past had become empty memories. Who could say whether, in another world, the three of them had already reunited? Lu Jin had wanted to say a few words, but after much thought, he found himself unable to speak. What was there to say? In silence, he bowed his head, only wishing them peace.

———

The day after, Lu Jin accompanied Lu Yuanrong out to the fields. He wasn’t there to labor—after all, he was a landlord of some standing—only to oversee the work. During a break, the uncle and nephew sat together on the ridge between the paddies, chatting as they gazed at the lush, verdant landscape. Lu Jin’s heart gradually grew lighter.

“Uncle, do you think our family could move to Jianglin?” Lu Jin ventured. He wasn’t familiar with the family’s situation and wasn’t sure if they’d be willing to follow him.

Lu Yuanrong looked troubled. He was reluctant to be separated from Lu Jin. But there was all that land at home—someone had to look after it. Besides, what would they do in Jianglin?

“Uncle, I want to start doing some things in Jianglin, but I don’t have many trustworthy people around me. If things at home can be arranged, I’d still like the whole family to move, so I can be at ease. I’d also like your help,” Lu Jin said candidly, given their close relationship.

“What could I do to help?” Lu Yuanrong asked in surprise. In his mind, the best path was still to become an official. Now that the exams were out of reach, the only chance was to rely on the Shen family. But what help could he, as an official, offer his nephew?

“I’ve started a security escort agency—you could think of it that way…”

“You want to become a merchant?” Lu Yuanrong interrupted, his face darkening. If you’re set on trade, you might as well stay home and tend the land. Where did this fiery temper come from? Really, who did you inherit it from?

“Uncle, don’t be hasty, just hear me out. Have you heard of the bandits on the Lanjiang River?”

“How could I not? Our village isn’t far from the Lanjiang…” But what does that have to do with being a merchant?

“The river bandits are becoming more powerful… At the Shen house, I’ve heard that the court is in chaos, too. The emperor has just died, and the new one’s health is failing… Not long ago, military rations in Haidong were plundered, and the governor was burned alive…”

Lu Jin outlined the information he had gathered.

“Uncle, I feel uneasy. The world may soon descend into chaos…” He shared his deduction with Lu Yuanrong.

Lu Yuanrong was startled. He knew about the bandits and the emperor’s death, but little else. Living as a village landlord, his information was limited. Yet he’d once served as a military officer—a captain of the Guoyi Guard, no less—which was how he’d managed to accumulate so much land. So Lu Jin’s words struck him deeply.

“Uncle, I don’t wish to be a mere merchant. I want to make preparations for the future. If chaos truly comes, we can’t let ourselves be bullied.”

“And if the troubled times never arrive, at least I won’t have toiled in vain—I’ll have built a livelihood.”

Lu Yuanrong was equally shocked by the state of the world and by how much his nephew seemed to have matured. He was like a different person.

“What do you plan to do?” he asked.

“I’ve opened an escort agency, planning to set up branches in the major cities of Daliang, and to form a team of escorts. We’ll support them by transporting and guarding goods for others. With times so unsettled, there’s no shortage of business… But right now, I lack people I can trust.” Lu Jin explained his plan.

Lu Yuanrong was even more astonished. Was his nephew’s ambition so vast? Was this not the path to raising a private army?

“But if you keep so many men, what if the court finds out?” Lu Yuanrong, a former military man, was cautious.

“Escort guards are a legitimate profession, not a private army. We’ll be discreet, and the current court can barely maintain order as it is. Besides, we can rely on the Shen family—I’m their second-in-command. There are always options.”

———

Thinking it over, Lu Yuanrong realized he was right. Escort agencies had always existed—why shouldn’t others do the same? It was just that, in more peaceful times, there was no real need. Escort agencies and their guards were registered, but with things in such chaos—when even a governor could be burned alive—who could enforce the rules? Lu Yuanrong knew all too well the reality at the lower rungs of the bureaucracy.

Listening to his nephew, Lu Yuanrong, though already in his forties, felt his old fighting spirit rekindle.

“But just running escorts won’t be enough to support so many people!” Ambition alone wouldn’t feed them—how long would it take to succeed?

“Uncle, don’t worry. I have plenty of ways to make money.” Lu Jin was confident.

“Have you told the Shen family?” Lu Yuanrong pressed.

“No, you’re the only one who knows.”

Lu Yuanrong couldn’t help but feel pleased—his nephew had become sensible and thoughtful.

“Is your relationship with the Shen family girl just about feelings, or is there something else?” Lu Yuanrong suspected things weren’t that simple.

Lu Jin smiled. “Uncle, how much could just the two of us accomplish alone? However hard we work, it would only be for others. But with the Shen family, whether they like it or not, I can use their influence—no matter how real or feigned. Who would dare plot against the Shen family?”

“And you’re not afraid of being swallowed up by them?” Lu Yuanrong knew all too well how great families grew.

“That’s nothing to worry about. I have my own ways.” Besides strengthening his own forces, he had Shen Yanxi as an ace in the hole. He didn’t fear that father-in-law of his—but this wasn’t something he could say out loud.

“All right, you two go back for now. I’ll wrap up things here and come find you.”

“Uncle, I mean the whole family. I don’t want us two to be worrying about things back here,” Lu Jin emphasized, not wanting any misunderstanding.

“I know. If I didn’t take her, do you think your aunt would agree?” Lu Yuanrong laughed.

He still saw himself as just an uncle, but Baili Rou simply treated Lu Jin as her own son.

———

“Look at that sulky little face. Come on, talk to your brother. Let me tell you how I used to make our Caiwei angry,” Lu Jin said, sitting beneath the big banyan tree, working to resolve a family matter. His little sister had been giving him the cold shoulder for days. This needed to be settled.

“Today, your brother will just sit here, I promise—if you curse me, I won’t retort, if you hit me, I won’t resist. I’ll accept whatever punishment you wish, all right?” Lu Jin smiled.

Lu Caiwei glanced up at him but said nothing. These days, she’d seen him always smiling and chatting with their parents. He was nothing like before.

Did she still hate him? It seemed she didn’t, not really. Besides, he’d already forgotten the past.

“See? I knew you couldn’t bear to scold your brother. But I still want to say I’m sorry. I was in the wrong.”

Hearing his words, Lu Caiwei couldn’t hold back her tears any longer—they fell in drops to the ground.

She had never imagined he would one day admit his fault.

“Look what I’ve got for you.” Lu Jin didn’t dwell on it. What was done was done, and he couldn’t turn back. He was no longer the same person.

Lu Caiwei wiped her eyes and accepted the box. She’d forgiven him—what else could she do? Besides, the box was beautiful.

Opening it, she found, set against the silk lining, several pieces of translucent green jade jewelry: a necklace, a pendant, two bracelets.

Lu Jin owed much to Shen Yanxi, who always handled such matters with impeccable care—everyone in the family had received many exquisite gifts. Both his uncle, aunt, and Caiwei were delighted.

Shen Yanxi had especially instructed him to give this gift to Caiwei in his own name. Lu Jin had prepared something as well, but compared to Shen Yanxi’s, it didn’t quite measure up.

“Do you like it?” Lu Jin watched her turning the bracelet over in her hands, and felt a sense of relief.

“Did my sister-in-law pick this out?”

Lu Jin: “…” This girl—can’t her brother have any dignity?

“Otherwise, how would you choose something so ladylike…”

What was that supposed to mean? Didn’t she know her brother could be quite thoughtful nowadays?

“From now on, never mind whether it’s for girls or boys—so long as you like it, your brother will buy it for you.” Lu Jin reached out to ruffle her hair.

Lu Caiwei didn’t dodge, only scrunched her nose in embarrassment.

Sensing hope, Lu Jin doubled down, tousling her hair until it was a wild mess.

Just as Lu Caiwei was about to protest, she saw Lu Jin dart away like a rabbit.

“Lu Jin, you little scoundrel!”

But he was already gone, racing into the house.

Her face, flushed with anger, soon broke into a smile she couldn’t suppress.

Her brother—he truly had changed.

———

“What’s happened?” Baili Rou anxiously hurried over when she saw Lu Jin return breathless.

Seated to one side, Shen Yanxi was also curious—had he been chased by wolves?

“Aunt, do you think Caiwei was adopted?” Lu Jin said between gasps.

“What nonsense.” Baili Rou was both amused and exasperated.

“Her temper is far too fierce—not like you at all.”

“That little rascal, don’t worry, I’ll deal with her later,” Baili Rou consoled him.

“Aunt, I know a foolproof way to handle unruly children. Just look at how mischievous Caiwei is—can’t sit still for a moment. So let’s have her study and write every day—I guarantee she’ll be tamed in no time!”

“Will she be able to manage?” Baili Rou worried. She wasn’t a dull woman—she knew Lu Jin wasn’t truly trying to punish Caiwei. Still, Caiwei had only learned to read a little a few years ago and had since forgotten most of it.

In these times, girls rarely received a good education—and what use was there for it, anyway? The Lu family could afford to educate Caiwei, but had never forced her; that was simply how things were.

“Aunt, the sons and daughters of the Lu family should all study, no matter their gender. Just look at your niece-in-law—elegant, dignified, learned, and wise. Why? Because she’s well-read,” Lu Jin said patiently.

On the side, Shen Yanxi, who’d been quietly observing, blushed at his words. Her husband—how… She couldn’t even think of a word to describe the feeling, only that her heart was sweet with happiness.

As a noblewoman, Shen Yanxi should have been unfazed by such things. She’d seen all kinds of scenes—yet never one like this.

Self-effacement was a key virtue—not just for oneself, but for one’s family. Terms like “your unworthy servant,” “my humble wife,” “my son”—all were forms of modesty. Who would praise his wife so openly in front of elders as Lu Jin did?

Baili Rou glanced at Shen Yanxi—indeed, she was like a fairy.

“Very well, everything will be as you say,” the aunt agreed readily. She knew her nephew had changed, and would never harm Caiwei—so she would trust him.

“But that alone may not be enough—we can’t let the evenings go to waste,” Lu Jin added, coaxing.

Baili Rou was stunned—wasn’t that a bit too much?

Listening at the doorway, Lu Caiwei was left speechless. What kind of brother was this!