153, Encounter
153, Encounter
In the evening, before the city gates closed, Lu Lao Er and Lu Lao Si brought their sons and pushed carts into the city.
Because he had been dealing with the death of his eldest daughter two days ago, Lu Laoer hadn't come to the stall for two days. In the past few days, it was his second daughter and son who came to the city to sell things. It was not until today that he came to the stall that his second daughter was able to stay at home without coming with him.
The journey from Shihua Village to Kyoto Prefecture was long, and by the time they reached the city, the four of them were sweating profusely, their clothes soaked with sweat.
This time, when passing by the place where their third aunt set up a stall, Lu Wulang habitually looked over here, but he didn't expect to see his little cousin sitting alone at the door of the pancake shop selling things.
"Father, it's Qilang." Lu Wulang, who was pushing the cart from the back, told the father in front where his cousin was. He let go of the cart, ran to his cousin's stall, and called out, "Qilang."
"Fifth brother." Hearing the familiar voice calling him, Lu Mingfei looked up and saw his fifth cousin standing in front of him. He looked behind his cousin and saw his second uncle, fourth uncle and another cousin there.
When his eyes met those standing across the street, he nodded slightly to them before looking at his cousin standing in front of him and saying, "You guys just arrived in the city, right?"
"Yeah, yes, yes." Lu Wulang wanted to ask his cousin if he had returned to the village today, but when the words came to his lips, he didn't know how to ask. It was obvious that his cousin had returned to the village with his uncle today, so he must have known about the things going on in their family.
Lu Wulang was heartbroken upon learning of his eldest sister's sudden death. He was also deeply saddened by the fact that his grandparents had taken the money they had given him and promised not to pursue the matter. His father remained silent about this, while his mother argued with his grandmother daily at home.
But Lu Wulang knew that his mother was simply trying to get the money from his grandmother, not to seek justice for her daughter who died inexplicably.
Lu Laosi also pulled a cart over to his nephew, looked at his nephew who was selling things on the street, and asked with some confusion: "Qilang, why are you here today?" Lu Laosi was a little confused as to why this nephew who was studying was still selling things on the street, because in his opinion, since this nephew was studying to take the imperial examinations and was going to be an official in the future, he should not be doing these business things.
Lu Mingfei did not miss the surprise and confusion in his fourth uncle's eyes, as if it was totally inappropriate for him to be here watching the stall selling things.
He probably knew why his fourth uncle showed such an expression when he saw him setting up a stall here. It was simply because he thought that scholars should study hard and not do such menial jobs.
In the eyes of people of this era, studying and becoming an official was considered the highest class, while being a businessman was considered the lowest of the lowest classes. Scholars were at the top, merchants were at the bottom, and farmers and workers were in the middle. Little did they know that among them, the farmers, who worked hard in the fields, were the ones who were not getting enough to eat.
So, how come you, a bunch of peasants who can't even get enough to eat, are always looking down on this and that? Lu Mingfei was a little confused.
However, there was no need for him to argue with his fourth uncle about these things, so he just casually replied: "There are not enough people at home, so I came here to help."
"Where are your father and mother?" Lu Laosi asked when he didn't see his brother and sisters-in-law here.
"They're all busy with other things." Lu Mingfei looked at his second uncle, who was standing across the street and hadn't come over. He also noticed that his second uncle looked much more depressed than when he saw him a while ago. But thinking of his deceased eldest cousin, he didn't know who his second uncle was acting like this for.
If I had known this would happen, why would I have done it in the first place? He really couldn't feel any sympathy for his second uncle.
If we talk about pity, isn't his eldest cousin who died at a young age even more pitiful?
"Oh." Lu Laosi noticed his nephew's eyes looking behind them. He turned around and looked back in the direction his nephew was looking. Then he turned around and said to his nephew, "I heard that you and your father returned to the village today."
"Yes, that's right." Lu Mingfei looked at his fourth uncle calmly, waiting for him to continue.
Meeting his nephew's gaze, Lu Laosi, who had been about to say something, couldn't open his mouth to ask any more questions. He could only look away awkwardly, smirking and saying, "We have to hurry up and set up our stall, so I won't talk to you anymore. I'll come to have tea with you and your father another day."
"Okay." Lu Mingfei nodded and said nothing else.
Lu Wulang looked at his little cousin with hesitation, said hello to him, and went back to where his father was waiting for him.
After watching the Lu family members leave, the expression on Lu Mingfei's face turned cold.
Even after they had walked away, Lu Wulang turned back to take a look. Seeing his little cousin standing on the street selling things, he glanced at him, then turned back, lowered his head dejectedly, and continued to pull the cart forward.
Lu Mingfei, who was busy selling things here, did not notice the gaze looking at him.
After he had sold most of the braised food and fried snails, his father and adoptive father brought Zhang Qi back from outside, all three of them looking very happy.
"Dad, godfather, you're back so soon?" Seeing his father and godfather return shortly after they left, Lu Mingfei looked at the clay pot on the cart. However, the pot was covered with a lid, so he couldn't tell whether the items inside were sold out or not. "Are all the items sold out?"
"It's sold out. It sold quite well. How much do you have left?" Lu Youtian lifted the lid of the clay pot and took a look at the remaining fried snails inside. He turned back and said to Lu Qingfeng, "Shopkeeper Luo just asked how many fried snails we have and asked us to send them to his shop."
"Then I'll send it over." Lu Qingfeng said.
At this time, Zhang Qi on the side said: "I'll go."
"Do you remember the place?" Lu Youtian asked.
"I remember, I remember." Zhang Qi then talked about which street the tavern was on.
"Okay, then you go." Lu Youtian said to his eldest son, then moved the remaining fried snails and braised food onto the cart and asked Zhang Qi to deliver it to the tavern owner Luo. "Remember to collect the money."
"Okay, I know." Zhang Qi responded and led the donkey away.
Seeing Zhang Qi leading the donkey away, they moved all the tables and stools in front of the door back into the store.
***
When they came back from outside, dinner was already ready at the pancake shop.
Knowing that Zhang Qi would not be back for a while, they did not wait for Zhang Qi to come back before eating. Before eating, Lu Mingfei took out a bowl with some dishes for Zhang Qi to eat when he came back, and the two families ate first.
It was almost dark when Zhang Qi came back from delivering the things. He also brought the money from the sales back to the adults at home.
Lu Youtian took the money and gave it to his wife, then said to the child who had returned, "Go eat first. We'll leave after you finish your meal."
"Okay, okay." Zhang Qi went to wash his hands before coming over to pick up the food left for him. He picked up the chopsticks and shoveled the rice into his mouth in big mouthfuls.
"Drink some soup, don't choke." Lu Mingfei poured a bowl of soup for Zhang Qi and put it next to Zhang Qi's hand. Then he came over to drink tea and chat with his father and godfather.
Zhang Qi, who was eating, glanced back at his older brother who had left. Seeing the soup in front of him, his heart warmed. He picked up the bowl and took a big sip of the soup, a smile on his face, and then continued to eat rice with his chopsticks.
By the time Zhang Qi finished his meal and they returned home from the pancake shop, it was already dark outside.
On the way back, Lu Mingfei was holding a lantern in his hand. After listening to his father's story, he learned that his father and adoptive father had also met his second uncle and fourth uncle who were setting up stalls on the street on their way back.
Speaking of these brothers, Lu Youtian thought about it and decided not to tell his wife and children too much about those people. He just sighed and said, "Oh, forget it."
"Let's just live our lives well. We can't interfere in other people's affairs." Liu Sanniang's words were to comfort her husband while also reminding her husband and eldest son.
It wasn't that she was cold-blooded, but their third branch had been separated for many years, and it wasn't their place to meddle in matters back home. It was indeed inappropriate for them to intervene. While her deceased niece was pitiful, she didn't want to bring unnecessary trouble to her family and her eldest son because of her niece's affairs.
On the way back, the family didn't mention the Lu family's old house anymore.
Lu Youtian asked his eldest son, "Mingfei, are you going back to study with your teacher?"
"I will go back to my teacher tomorrow and talk to him about this exam. But I probably won't be going back to the private school for classes recently." Lu Mingfei said.
"Oh, if you don't want to go back, then don't go back. It's the same if you study at home." Lu Youtian knew that his eldest son could study by himself at home, and it didn't matter whether he went to a private school or not.
However, Lu Youtian didn't want his eldest son to waste time helping the family sell things instead of going to private school, so he said to his eldest son: "In the future, you don't have to come out to help the family set up a stall like today. It's more important for you to study now." He was also worried that his eldest son would meet familiar people while setting up a stall on the street, which would make his eldest son lose face in front of his classmates.
"It's okay, Dad. I'll just take it as a way to relax. It won't affect my studies." But Lu Mingfei didn't want to look at books or read at all now.
However, Lu Youtian disagreed with this point. "Even though you have finished the college entrance examination, you can't slack off in your studies."
"Dad, I'm not slacking off. Reading is not just about reading words in books. You also have to look at the people's livelihood and the country. Don't think I'm just selling things on the street. I'm experiencing life and observing the people's livelihood and the country." Lu Mingfei instilled the idea that knowledge is not just in books into his father and mother.
The adults were talking, completely forgetting that there were a few children listening nearby.
When Lu Mingrui heard what his brother said, a gleam of "So that's it" flashed in his eyes.
Many years later, when the second son brought up the same thing the eldest son had said to him, Lu Youtian finally remembered who the second son's words came from.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
