For many days afterward, the Lu family remained quiet.

On the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, Zhao's two uncles came to work at Lu's house. Lu Yunfeng told them that he was going to take Zhao Fang to the county town. "The two uncles will take care of the house. Uncle Dahe in the east of the village is hardworking and honest. I've decided to bring him back to take care of the chickens and ducks. I'm afraid the two of them won't be able to take care of everything."

Zhao Ling nodded, "Wang Dahe can manage the orchard on the back hill. Spring is coming soon, so it's perfect to have him here."

Lu Yunfeng said, "According to custom, our family members cannot enter other people's homes on the seventh day after Grandma's death. We will have to trouble Uncle Wang Dahe to make a trip to his house."

"No problem, I'll go right now." Zhao Ling got up and headed towards the east entrance of the village.

Wang Dahe was overjoyed to be able to work for the Lu family again, so he readily agreed and politely saw Zhao Ling off.

He turned around and went to the kitchen to get the half-eaten meat left over from the New Year. "Mom, wife, we're having meat tonight."

Wang Dahe's mother smiled and said, "Although I didn't work for the Lu family last year, the weather was good and the crops were enough for the whole family. Tonight we'll have white rice porridge. Daughter-in-law, eat more so you can produce milk. From now on, Dahe can go back to work, and our family will have a better life."

The Wang family was having a good time, but Granny Guo, who was taking care of Shitou, was a little worried and hesitated before asking, "Then what about me..."

The Lu family is kind-hearted, and working here is the easiest job for her. But now that her child is grown up, if they no longer need her, she can't just stay.

Qin Xiaozhou said, "I'd like to trouble Aunt Guo to go home and tell her family that you can come to the county town to help us take care of the children and live with us."

Granny Guo was immediately relieved. "Alright, alright, I'll go back now and pack my things to come to the county town to find you on the twelfth day of the new year."

Wang Lan's seven-day mourning period passed quickly, but the Lu family members still looked grief-stricken. Lu Yunfeng's face was ashen, his eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed to have lost half of his energy.

Lu Yunxing would often stare blankly at a book, and tears would inexplicably stream down his face.

Lu Yan slept with Zhao Fang for several nights before she recovered.

Qin Xiaozhou saw their reactions and could only do her best to take care of her family and business.

That day, Lu Yunxing suddenly said he wanted to stay at Kongshan Temple, fifty miles north of the county town, for a while, which greatly frightened his family.

Zhao Fang grabbed his arm anxiously, "Eryun, we are all very sad that your grandmother has passed away, but you can't have the idea of ​​becoming a nun because of this!"

"Yes, second brother, if you become a monk, Grandma will be heartbroken."

Lu Yunxing quickly reassured him, "It's not that I want to become a monk, it's just that my mind is not at peace. I'll go to the temple to calm my mind. I'll be back in half a month to three months. This is also what the Master wants. Otherwise, I'll be in a daze all day and won't be able to concentrate on my studies."

Lu Yunfeng confirmed again and again, "You really didn't become a monk?"

“Brother, it’s really not like that.” Lu Yunxing explained patiently, “You support my studies, and every month you spend four or five taels of silver on books, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones. How could I abandon your efforts to become a monk?”

He's not that heartless.

To buy him books, his sister-in-law asked Gu Yunyao to buy more than ten books from Yujing, books that are not available in small counties like Fenggu County.

Zhao Fang was relieved. "Okay, then go ahead."

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yong arrived with his eldest nephew before he left the house the next day.

He felt he was taking advantage of the Lu family, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Gouzi is the eldest son of our family. Grandpa wants to send him to be my second cousin's page. He is nine years old this year and can help my second cousin carry his book box and do laundry."

The Zhao family has had a much better life in recent years, but the family is also large, with nine children in total, the youngest being only two months old. The house was no longer big enough, so they built a new house last year, which cost more than fifty taels of silver. All the money they had saved in the past two years was spent.

Originally, they hadn't planned to send their children to school. They were all farmers, just making a living from the land. But seeing that everyone in the Lu family was literate, Grandpa Zhao also had the idea of ​​sending his grandson to school.

Since the family had no money, they thought of sending their eldest grandson to Lu Yunxing's side as a page. They didn't expect him to pass the imperial examinations, but as long as he could learn some characters, he could find a job under the Lu family in the future and make a living.

The dog was short, neither thin nor fat, with dark skin, and he grinned, "Second Uncle, don't underestimate me just because I'm small, I'm very strong."

He grew up in the village and worked hard from a young age. His arms were muscular and firm, like a skinny monkey, making him look strong and less prone to illness.

Lu Yunxing never thought of having a pageboy; that was a privilege reserved for the young masters of wealthy families. Although the Lu family was now rich, he was still the same little boy from Wangjia Village at heart.

He was somewhat embarrassed.

Lu Yunfeng made the decision, "Then let my nephew come. He can learn to read from Eryun from now on, but how many he can learn depends entirely on his own ability. We will take care of his food, drink and lodging, and pay him five hundred coins a month. Second cousin, what do you think?"

Zhao Yong waved his hands repeatedly, "No need for wages, no need. It's this kid's good fortune to be able to follow Eryun."

Lu Yunfeng didn't argue, but he still had to pay the wages due.

Zhao Yong was overjoyed. "This kid has a formal name, Zhao Fa. My grandfather said that the name sounds like someone who toils in the fields. He asked my second cousin to give him a name that sounds like a scholar's name."

Actually, he didn't know what a scholar's name was, but his grandfather said, "Then let's change it."

Gouzi looked at his second cousin with shining eyes. Although he ran around in the fields every day, his favorite people were his cousins ​​and aunts from the Lu family.

Whenever Lu's cousins ​​came to Zhao's village, the other children in the village would envy her for having such impressive relatives when she went out.

Being able to follow his second cousin was the thing he looked forward to the most.

Lu Yunxing felt a little embarrassed by his gaze, and coughed lightly with his fist against his lips. "Then let's call him Zhao Qianxun. He is modest and polite, and upright and incorruptible."

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