CH 57

Chapter 57: Returned to the Lu Mansion

But Miantang said, “It’s too attractive that we are driving so many sheep. I’m afraid the officers and soldiers will come to find us today. If we don’t cross-dress, we will be in trouble.”

When she chatted with the goat dealer yesterday, she knew that there were many smugglers here.

In the eyes of officers and soldiers, these smugglers are liked like fat lambs.

Since Empress Dowager Wu listened to the Court behind the curtain, she has collected exorbitant taxes and levies. In particular, in the Northwest Territories, prostitution is prevalent, and serious businessmen cannot earn money at all.

The sheep traders are all local people, and they always bride the officers and soldiers according to the annual festivals. Thus, no one bothers them when they buy or sell generally.

However, after making money, all merchants from other places will be wiped out. The fine and the tax money paid in arrears, combined with the threat of going to prison, have made a considerable impact, which is equivalent to a trip in vain.

Miantang doesn’t want to put in all the effort and didn’t get any benefits, but contributed to others’ good deeds, so she sets out in the dark and changed her costume.

Between silver and beard, it seems that it is much easier to choose.

Liu Kun and the two escorts no longer hesitated. They shaved their beards. For a moment, their faces were bare. They looked at each other and felt that even their parents could not recognize them at a glance.

Miantang smiled and said, “In this way, there is no risk.”

As expected, when the day dawned, some officers and soldiers set up tables on the road to check the merchants. They were far away. The people who stopped people had seen them in the livestock market near the river, but they were in civilian clothes at that time. They looked at the money carefully next to the sheep traders.

Now they are going to arrest people in their official skin. This is the only way to enter the Checkpoint, and they are sure of it.

When Miantang was seen sitting in a carriage pulled by a small donkey with long pigtails and cotton skirts, the officers and soldiers stopped her to ask.

When they heard that this Lady was going to leave for her husband’s family, the guards looked at Miantang carefully.

They did not recognize Miantang as the boy of yesterday’s livestock market. After all, such a beautiful girl can’t stand the black-faced smuggler in a sheepskin coat!

Damn it, that kid is so smooth. Because that kid has been dallying and hasn’t traded, they have no patience and went to have some wine. They originally thought after having their wine and sleep, before going to hold them down again.

But when they raided in the middle of the night to search the cart and horse shop, the boy left quietly. If they manage to hold down that boy and several beards man, they will be richer in oil and water, so they rush here all the way to find the dirty boy!

This is the only way to enter the Checkpoint, and the gate can only be opened in the morning, so they are not afraid that they will escape ahead of time.

Although Miantang has a long scarf covering her mouth and nose, looking at her exposed eyebrows, they can guess that this is a stunning beauty.

The usual boring hobby of officers and soldiers is to search for the beautiful ladies and married women in the past, and carefully check whether they have brought anything inappropriate.

Now, as soon as they see such a big lady sitting in the carriage, those lecherous soldiers are ready to take action, staring at Miantang and asking her to come down for a body search.

Miantang frowned slightly and was about to stab the bladder of the cow she had brought yesterday, making some stinky smell. Suddenly, there was a riot behind the motorcade waiting for inspection. It was said that someone was beating and robbing.

For a moment, the officers and soldiers ran to the back one after another, without continuing to check on Miantang, and waved to let her enter first.

Besides, when the hitter at the back of the motorcade saw the officers and soldiers coming over, he knocked down the person with a black face. He looked at the carriage and said, “How dare you stop the Northwest Army special mission?”

The token bluffed the servants into nodding their heads and dared not stop them again.

Fan Hu put away his token, looked at his subordinate men behind him, and said nothing.

Lady Liu is too good at causing mental and physical suffering. If he hadn’t kept his spirits up, he would have lost her all the way. It’s just that God sees for the sake of his 80-year-old mother, and blesses him to finish this job safely. From then on, he will return to the fields and return to his hometown…

In this way, Miantang and her party finally entered the Checkpoint without danger. After a long journey, they finally arrived at the boundary of the State of Xi.

Before turning back to the Lu family, Liu Kun saw people in the escort agency galloping on the official road one after another. One of them was Lu Mu, the Second Master of the Lu family.

Liu Kun hurriedly called for the Second Master.

The Second Master didn’t recognize Liu Kun at first, but when he heard his voice, he stopped his horse and looked back. But he looked at it for a long time before he found that this old guy with a shiny egg-liked face… Was actually Liu Kun!

At that moment, the Second Master was so angry that he cursed, “Liu Kun, you are crazy! Where did you take Little Liu? My Elder Brother found that she was gone, and he was so worried that he nearly knocked himself to death in front of my father!”

Lu Mu is different from an upright uncle. He is very devilish and he is super good at words that he naturally scolds Liu Kun in anger now.

Liu Miantang put out her head from the carriage and shouted, “Second Uncle, it’s windy today. If you say more, you will fill your mouth with sand!”

Lu Mu turned his head and looked at the smiling Miantang. When he saw her, he felt a sigh of relief. He flew off the horse and ran to the carriage. He pulled Miantang down and looked at her solemnly. After he was sure that it was his niece, he cried, “You are really an inconsiderate girl. Why don’t you send letters home for so long?”

Miantang looked at her Second Uncle, who had always been close to her. Her eyes were full of tears, but she only said “It’s a long story, I’ll tell you in detail when we go home.”

So the people on both sides gathered in one place and marched toward the State of Xi. After a day of walking, Miantang’s heart slowly breathed a sigh when she finally reached the city gate of the State of Xi.

Lu Xian was injured, so the team didn’t go fast all the way. When he was almost at the border of the State of Xi, he found that Miantang was not the one who had been hiding in the carriage.

This has made the Eldest Master panic. But now that they are at home, she always has to report the news back. So he had to see his father first.

Great joy and great sorrow are taboos for the elderly. Lu Xian dared not tell his father that he had found Miantang and lost her again.

So he secretly told Lu Mu, his Second Younger Brother.

Lu Mu knows that Liu Miantang has a big idea. He thinks that since Liu Kun is following her, there should be no big deal.

However, after a few days, Lu Mu still didn’t receive any news thus, he was getting less confident.

Lu Xian decided to go back and find Miantang along the way he came from. However, he was stopped by his wife, Quan, who only said that Lu Qingying, the Second daughter in his family, was about to arrange a marriage. The other party’s family background was good, and Childe’s mother would come to see her in person. If he left at this time and could not receive her personally, wouldn’t it be disrespectful?

Lu Mu was also hesitant. Lu Xian was angry seeing this scene thus, he said that he would just go by himself and let his Second Younger Brother entertain his future son-in-law at home.

Lu Mu felt that his Elder Brother’s tone was not right and there was a means of teasing, so they began to quarrel. He only said that it was not him who lost her, even if their father knew about it, he could not blame him.

As a result, the two brothers became angrier and angrier. Their quarreling noise was so loud that Lu Wu, who came by with a cane at some time, heard it.

At this time, Miantang’s affair has been leaked. The two brothers knelt in front of the Old Master Lu. After telling the truth honestly, they all got a beating with his crutches.

However, the Old Master Lu also knew that his eldest son was seriously injured, and his body and bones could not take in this suffering. So after asking about the cause and effect, he asked Lu Mu, his second son, to lead people to find Miantang.

The Old Master spoke clearly in front of his second daughter-in-law. He just said to his second son, “Don’t blame your brother for all the dirty things. If it weren’t for the Mountain of Yang gang you knew first, will your brother and Miantang fall into the thieves’ den? But now you’re taking advantage of the influence and authority of your father-in-law’s, Third Brother Quan, pretending to be what you are not and not care about the matter you caused? Let me tell you if Miantang can’t be found, the second girl in your family can tell her future in-laws that her father died outside! If they got married, my grandson-in-law can also save to toast a cup of tea! ”

Even if the Old Master Lu is ill, he is still the pillar of the Lu family. Lu Mu and his wife were scolded so badly that they could not get away using the matter of their daughter’s blind date.

So Lu Mu went out of the city to look for Miantang.

Unexpectedly, God helps him!

He met Miantang on the way without a day’s effort.

When they returned to the Lu Mansion, it was time for dinner.

The family of both Masters gathered together to form a big table and were dining with the Old Master, but the Old Master didn’t have the appetite. Thus, they were also not good at feasting wholeheartedly, and the hall was a little dull for a while.

At this time, the servant boy at the door shouted, “Old Master! The Second Master and Lady Liu are back!”

The whole family looked at each other and suspected that they had heard the wrong thing.

The Old Master Lu walked out without crutches in a hurry.

When he saw Miantang behind his second son, the Old Master’s chest heaved violently and slowly stopped moving.

When Miantang saw her grandfather, whom she had not seen for a long time, she burst into tears. She threw herself at her grandfather’s feet and sobbed out, “Grandfather…” and could not speak anymore.

However, the Old Master, Lu Wu, did not reach out to help her up but suddenly raised his hand, as if to slap her.

The Elder Master, Lu Xian, was frightened by his father’s action. He just wanted to take a few quick steps to protect Miantang and let the palm fall on him.

The Old Master Lu has practiced Iron Palm before. Although he is old and seriously ill, he is angry and has strength in his hands. Miantang’s delicate body and bones can’t bear it.

But when the palm as big as a fan was about to fall, the Old Master’s wrist reversed and the palm fell on his face with a slap.

The Old Master used a big strength. The sound made Miantang feel that her eardrums were hot.

She immediately got up and hold her grandfather, who had been beaten by himself, and sobbed, “I’m not sensible. You can take your anger out on me. Why are you beating yourself?”

However, Lu Wu suddenly shook her hand away and said nothing more. He only waved to his old servant, took the crutch, and went straight to his study.

Miantang knew that her grandfather was angry with her, so she did not dare to delay much, nor did she greet her aunt and cousins. She just followed Lu Wu all the way and came to the door of the study.

After entering the room, Miantang did not speak much but knelt in front of her grandfather’s desk.

This study was specially arranged by the old man when he was young to improve himself and reach the realm of all talents.

The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk are all of the best quality. It was collected by her Grandfather one by one when he was wandering around. The bookshelf behind the desk is full of books, all of which are big ones. The old man has not turned them over for decades and has not even folded the pages. Although occasionally covered with dust, the old servant diligently brushed them down, and they are still brand new.

The Old Master picked up a thick book from the bookshelf, sat down on the desk with a stiff face, and looked down. Although he turned the pages too often, it seemed that he could see everything at a glance, but he seemed to be very engaged in reading. He didn’t even glance at Miantang kneeling in front of the desk.

Miantang looked up secretly and saw that the cover of the book that her grandfather had read was a book written by Yan Shigu with four characters, “To reject falsehood and decency”, which was very profound. She’s afraid he could not understand the preface with his accomplishments.

Miantang stood aside and did not dare to remind his grandfather had chosen the book by faith or with another intention. In short, it was better to let the Old Master calm down first.

Therefore, Miantang said, “I’m not sensible, Grandfather. I haven’t returned any news in these years, which makes you worried.” Speaking of this, she couldn’t help crying when she thought of her grandfather’s love and the pain of being alone outside.

Lu Wu couldn’t help feeling distressed when she cried. He had only one daughter in his life and loved her very much. It was a pity that she died early when she met someone bad. Miantang looks like her mother. Whenever she sees Miantang, Lu Wu thinks of her daughter.

Lu Wu sighed at this thought, put down the thick book in his hand, asked the old servant to find Liu Kun, and asked, “Let me ask you, what has she done without telling her Big Uncle?”

Liu Kun did not dare to lie in front of the old escort leader. At the moment, he honestly told the doings of Liu Miantang’s reselling of goods. At the end of the day, he did not forget to praise Miantang and said, “Our Lady is smart and resourceful. If it were changed to an ordinary person, they won’t be able to think of a way to make money…”

Before Liu Kun finished speaking, the Old Master Lu slammed the table and scolded Miantang, “Your Big Uncle said you lost your memory and forgot everything about the mountain. I thought you would restrain a little more after that. Unexpectedly, even if you lost your memory, you still dare to act as you were before. If you go on like this, are you not afraid of causing a huge disaster?”

Seeing Lu Wu scolding Miantang, Liu Kun couldn’t help feeling sorry for Lady Liu and spoke with the means of smoothing, “Old Master, you can’t say that. She did these for the sake of the whole family…”

Lu Wu waved his hand and said, “Who asked her to support the whole family? Her surname is Liu, not Lu! Since she’s a guest, why should she come to support the owner’s family? Even if I die of hunger, I don’t need my granddaughter to exchange money risking her life! Keep all the money you earn here. If you dare to take a penny, believe it or not, I will go down with a cane and kill you this unfilial person!”

Miantang lowered her head, fiddled with the silk handkerchief in her hand, and speak softly, “Since I’m a guest, why did grandfather open your mouth and initiate to kill me? Can’t it be that your Mansion is a shop in crime? Do you want to get some human flesh buns?”

The whole family of the Lu family, only the Liu girl dared to talk back to him, and she also said with logic. This stupid girl has not changed since childhood for this point.

Lu Wu was retorted by his granddaughter. He was so angry that he could not say anything. He got up and wanted to beat her. He was stopped by the old servant and Liu Kun. Liu Kun now has no beard on his face, and his expression is very clear. He only sighed “My Liu girl! Are you going to kill your grandfather? Don’t you hurry and apologize soon?”

Miantang knelt obediently and faced Lu Wu and said, “My grandfather has always loved me, and I know he can’t bear to beat me… I know my mistake, and I will never do it again. Don’t be angry with me, Grandfather… It’s just that my father had spent a lot of money on the Lu family at the beginning, and I have to pay off these debts… I was in a hurry and went off the road… I was wrong.”

Lu Wu’s round eyes stared for a long time. Finally, he didn’t need to be held back by the others. He looked at Liu Miantang who was kneeling, sighed, waved the old servant and Liu Kun back, and then said to Liu Miantang, “Get up, since you are not convinced, what kind of filial piety are you pretending?”

Miantang looked at her grandfather’s suddenly aging appearance. She didn’t get up. She only hold her tears back and said, “I really knew I was wrong. Grandfather had taught me before. The Lu family’s family motto is to be right in doing things, not to speculate… I just wanted to make money quickly, and I forgot all your admonitions…”

Lu Wu gets up and walks over. After lifting Miantang, he turns her wrist and looks at the faint scar on it. Although Zhao Quan used the best scar medicine for her at the beginning, she broke her hamstring, There was still a scar on the skin, “You were young at that time, and you were close to your restless Second Uncle. After listening to his words, you kept a secret from me and get associated with the people in the Mountain of Yang. I was busy with your father’s affairs at that time, and I neglected to discipline you. Now when I think about it, I blame myself so much that I can hardly sleep. But you have grown to be a big girl now, and there are some hows and whys, even if you forget the teachings, you should understand.”

Looking down at Miantang, The Old Master sighed, “Remember, those people who were forced to join rebels said that they were helpless. Which of them was law-abiding deep in their bones? Rather than being forced, they made it by themselves. They wanted to earn something from nothing. To seek comfort was to sit on a pile of bones and get prosperous. Such people are not worth meeting. When your Grandfather, I, was young, I went to different places to make money to make the family feel better. But in retrospect, what’s the use of making so much money? I didn’t even teach my sons well. Because I made some dirty money, I wanted to make your mother more prominent, but I was deceived by your father’s good looks and made her marry the wrong person… Your father made an appointment for you without my permission, and you almost fell into a hopeless marriage. Now that it’s your generation, I just want you to be down-to-earth and live a good life. Don’t think about reviving the reputation of the escort agency. Those are men’s things, and we don’t need you! ”

Speaking of this, he took Miantang by the hand, just like when she was a child, and came to the bookshelf. He opened a dark box and took out several oil paper bags from it.

When he opened it, there were all neatly stacked silver bills.

Miantang looked at her grandfather in surprise. He said kindly, “These are the dowries I prepared for you girls. Daughters are different from sons. If they don’t have decent dowries, how can they raise their heads in their husband’s families? So I haven’t touched the money in the family even if the family usage is lacking. The biggest one is what I prepared for you. Forget about the past things. I had instructed the people in the family that no one should mention your past things. I will ask a good matchmaker to look for the family in a few days. I don’t require him to be rich, but he must have a good character and know how to cherish people. If you marry well, I will have no regrets in my life… ”

Miantang looked at the biggest oil paper bag, and the dowry inside was three times the others. Her eyes were moist.

When her grandfather said that she was an outsider and a guest just now, she felt uncomfortable and felt that his words were too hurtful. But now looking at his intentions, she knew that her Grandfather loved her more than his other granddaughters.

She did not speak but buried her face in her grandfather’s lap. Finally, she let go of all her worries, turned the grievances and sufferings of these days into tears, and let them out.

Lu Wu touched her head, feeling the warmth of his knees wet with her tears, and a big stone fell to the ground in his heart. His little candy had finally returned to his side.

The Lu family’s Mansion in the State of Xi was built by the Old Master when he was young. Later, when the Shenwei Escort Agency was doing well, Old Master Lu bought another Mansion and moved out. Now that the luxury houses have been sold, the Lu family has returned to the State of Xi. Although it is not as big as the later houses, it is decent enough for the gentry to live with generations.

It’s just that when it was the girl’s generation, the room seemed a little cramped. Fortunately, Lu Qinghe, the eldest daughter of Lu Mu, the Second Uncle, married a year ago and left a boudoir for Miantang to live in.

Fang Xie and Bi Cao, the two little girls who served her, were punished for kneeling until their knees were swollen. They can only walk slowly when taking bath water.

Fortunately, the young lady came back in time, otherwise, they would be tied up and sold according to the meaning of the Old Master Lu who was blowing beard and glaring eyes. Miantang looked at the two little servant girls who were frightened. She was also very comforting. She only said that her grandfather was a hard-spoken and soft-hearted person. He is easy to get along with. Let them not be afraid when they see the Old Master Lu later.

Fang Xie was fine. She had learned her lesson these two days. She was so scared that she picked up all the lessons that Servant Li had taught her. She just did things quietly.

However, Bi Cao was naturally talkative and told Miantang exactly how they had returned to the Lu family. Especially the argument between the Elder Master and the Second Master.

Miantang listened quietly, closed her eyes, and soaked in the bathtub, gradually knowing the sequence of events.

As her grandfather said, although she has a blank memory, her view of many things will naturally change when she gets older.

If she were forced to marry now, she would also think of another way. She would never go to the Mountain of Yang with her uncle as she did in those days.

She used to be closer with her Second Uncle who had a lot of bad ideas, but now when she thought of it, her Second Uncle is a person much more secure in personal gain than her Big Uncle

The next day, when her Second Aunt brought her daughter, Lu Qingying, to her house to see her, Miantang knew it.

Both uncles have two sons and two daughters.

The Second Aunt, Quan’s eldest son, Lu Zhifu, and Lu Qinghe, the eldest daughter who has been married. The rest is Lu Qingying, 16, who has not yet been married, and a nine-year-old younger son, Gui’er.

Quan’s father used to be a petty official in the State of Xi, and he was a close friend of Lu Wu. Later, he took the money and silver from his in-laws, the Lu family, and now he has got a position of a County Magistrate in other provinces.

Quan is now a serious official family member. When talking to her husband, Lu Mu, she also seems to have the attitude of marrying down. Her second daughter, Lu Qingying, also felt extraordinary after being with Quan for a long time. When she talked to her brothers and sisters, she always had the attitude of being born into the wrong family. The tiredness is not the grievance of the official lady.

With regard to cousin Liu Miantang, the adults at home hide her secrets. However, Lu Qingying still heard something from her mother.

Although she did not know Miantang’s livelihood in the Mountain of Yang, she knew that her reputation had been tainted after all, and she might not be able to marry any good family in the future.

For a moment, she looked at her cousin with some contempt.