Chapter 54

Ding Family Manor

The cold wind howled, and Lü Shangjing now wore a scholar's robe, looking neat and tidy, with a smile on his face. He carried a bag and bowed to an elderly man with gray temples: "I have relied on you for these years, earning my living as a tutor. Now, I miss my family and must bid farewell. It may be hard to meet again, so please take care of yourself, Sir."

"It is I who has wronged you, my young friend, by not giving you a proper platform to showcase your talents. I hope you will have a bright future," said Sir Ding, stroking his beard, feeling deeply moved.

At first, Sir Ding had highly valued Lü Shangjing, recognizing his talent at first glance.

However, as time passed, the warmth and respect gradually faded. Lü Shangjing's dedication to teaching made others start to look down on him.

"What can this scholar do without us?"

With this thought, the benefits gradually decreased, and the cold shoulders increased. Even Sir Ding, who had once greatly appreciated him, began to treat him more coldly.

This was not just a matter of being fickle; it was human nature—people do not value what they have until they lose it.

Now, as Sir Ding looked at Lü Shangjing, he suddenly realized that this man was erudite and deeply learned, with the grace of a true scholar in every gesture. However, he also knew that he had not treated Lü Shangjing well over the years and could not retain him, so he said regretfully, "I have wronged you."

"How can you say such things, Sir!" Lü Shangjing bowed deeply. "Without you, I, a weak scholar, would have struggled to survive these years. I will never forget your kindness and support."

Even though he knew it was a formality, Sir Ding felt some comfort. He waved his hand, and a servant brought a small tray covered with a red cloth.

He said, "This is your salary for this year. Although you have not completed a full year, I will give you double, thirty taels of silver. Please take it."

Lü Shangjing received it respectfully and made his final farewell.

Leaving the courtyard, he got into a cart and opened the tray to find thirty taels of silver, each ingot weighing five taels, and the fine silver shone. He sighed inwardly.

When he first came to the Ding family, he was treated like a son, with a salary of thirty taels. But over time, the treatment grew colder, the food became worse, and the salary decreased.

Looking back at the manor where he had lived for eight years, he felt a strange mix of emotions.

What was once a simple residence had become a prominent clan due to the rise of a county magistrate. Over the years, the clan had grown and prospered, and Lü Shangjing had witnessed all these changes.

Now, as he left, he felt a bittersweet taste.

The cart turned, and the mountains obscured the view.

Regaining his composure, he put away the six ingots and opened his package to find three hundred taels in silver notes. Holding both, he felt a moment of dizziness.

The cart driver congratulated him, "Congratulations, Sir, on returning home to reunite with your family. Your wife must be very happy!"

"Thank you for your kind words," Lü Shangjing replied with a bitter smile. His heart ached as he thought of his wife's expectations, the years he had spent avoiding the exams, and the eight years that had passed.

He had a frail wife and a young son. As a man, he had been seen as a hope for the village, but he had achieved nothing and could not improve their life. He had to rely on the clan's support, living frugally and sending almost all his money home, while telling his family, "I am doing well here. Be harmonious with the elders and take care of your siblings."

Every year, letters from home arrived. His wife, who could read, was initially suspicious, accusing him of being unfaithful. Over time, she became more understanding, and her letters focused on family matters, expressing her hope for his return.

Thinking of this, he felt a deep pain and a sense of shame.

Once a young man full of ambition, he was now a middle-aged man filled with sorrow.

After several days of travel, they reached a village. Lü Shangjing was stunned to see the decayed streets and sparse population, a stark contrast to the bustling village he remembered from eight years ago.

The sunset was like fire, and the cold wind pierced his bones. He got off the cart and said to the driver, "Watch the goods. I'll go check the road."

The cart was half full of practical household items. He followed the road he remembered and hurried toward his home.

He arrived at a small courtyard. The walls were peeling, but the fence gate was neat and intact. He breathed a sigh of relief, remembering the last letter he had received half a month ago, written in his wife's elegant hand, with a few crooked lines added by his young son.

His longing grew, but he hesitated at the gate, feeling a mix of excitement and fear. Peering through the fence, he saw that the thatched roof was old, but not leaking. The tree they had planted together was now a丈 high, with new buds sprouting.

His heart warmed, and he finally mustered the courage to call out.

Cluck, cluck—

A few old hens flapped their wings and jumped out of the house, followed by a young child laughing and playing. The child looked up and saw Lü Shangjing, then ran back inside, shouting, "Mother, mother, there's a bad man outside!"

After a few shouts, a gentle voice scolded the child, who stuck out his tongue and hid behind the door, looking curiously and timidly at the stranger. The child's face bore a resemblance to Lü Shangjing.

"This is my son..." Lü Shangjing dropped the two gifts he was carrying and reached out, but his mind went blank.

A woman in a simple dress and a headband came out, holding a sieve. Upon seeing Lü Shangjing, she dropped the sieve, and the beans scattered. The chickens pecked at them, but she was pale and unaware.

"Madam..." Lü Shangjing finally called out, tears streaming down his face.

The two stood on either side of the fence, having thought and dreamed of this moment. All the pride, shame, grievances, and anger had been worn down by life. Now, seeing each other, they were speechless: "You're back?"

"I'm back." Lü Shangjing pushed open the gate and saw her picking up the beans. He silently helped her.

Seeing her face, once beautiful, now worn by time, he sighed, "I have wronged you."

Qin Cao's hands paused, and her voice was hoarse, "Let's not talk about it. It's good that you're back!"

They fell into silence again, the sound of beans falling into the sieve, one by one, one by one...

The child, noticing the scattered beans, chased away the chickens, puzzled, "Mother, who is he?"

Qin Cao had to answer, "This is your father."

"Father? Isn't he an official who abandoned us?" The child looked at the stranger suspiciously, blinking his big, black eyes, and said firmly, "I don't think so."

Lü Shangjing felt embarrassed and guilty, unable to respond.

"Ha—" Qin Cao laughed, tears in her eyes, her voice choked, "Don't be stubborn, call him!"

The child, unable to hide his feelings, huffed and turned away, running into the room.

"This child!" Qin Cao frowned and tried to control her emotions.

Lü Shangjing touched her face, and she instinctively wanted to jump back but was held by his rough hand. She realized it was her husband, and her face was wet with tears.

She let him wipe her tears, listening to his apologies, and hugged him tightly, overwhelmed with emotions, bursting into tears, "You finally came back! You dared to come back! You..."

Lü Shangjing held her tightly, hearing her sobs, his face pale, and could only repeat, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm..."

The night lamp lit up, and the small village buzzed with excitement. Many relatives and neighbors came to welcome Lü Shangjing, bringing meat and vegetables for a welcome-back feast. They praised Qin Cao for her patience and the child's intelligence.

Lü Shangjing, a thoughtful man, had prepared the half-cart of goods for this occasion. He distributed gifts according to their relationships, and everyone praised him, "Mr. Lü has done well outside."

"Mrs. Lü has not waited in vain."

"This family has a prosperous future, and the child is smart and well-behaved, he will surely succeed."

The praise filled the air, and Lü Shangjing handled it gracefully. Qin Cao smiled warmly, and their son, who had been stubborn earlier, now called his father affectionately.

After the last guest left, the courtyard was quiet. Qin Cao cleaned up, and Lü Shangjing patiently answered his son's questions.

When it was time to rest, Qin Cao, following Lü Shangjing's hint, put the child to bed.

Lü Shangjing closed the door, took out his bag, and revealed twenty taels of fine silver and the silver notes. He handed them to his wife, "Although I didn't pass the examination, I have some talent. A few days ago, a nobleman offered me three hundred taels as a guest scholar. I received thirty taels from Sir Ding and spent some on gifts. The rest is for you to manage."

Qin Cao, in her thirties, looked at him with a mix of surprise and concern. In the lamplight, she still had a beautiful face and a charming smile, reminiscent of her younger days.

Lü Shangjing remembered his early success, passing the child examination, and being favored by Old Scholar Cao, who gave him his daughter.

Qin Cao, with her upbringing, was capable of managing the household and maintaining their dignity. However, she had suffered with him, especially after her father's death, when they lost the support from her family. It had been ten years since they had seen so much money, and she was not used to it.

She looked at him, surprised, and asked, "Why so much... Did you get cheated or do something illegal?"

As a wife, she knew that with a salary of fifteen taels a year, he sent ten taels home, and the remaining five had to last the year. The Ding family provided meals, and they had managed to survive for seven or eight years.

Her concerned gaze made Lü Shangjing feel both heartache and comfort. He said, "Your husband may not be lucky, but I have some talent and am a law-abiding person. Do you doubt this?"

He added gently, "With this money, you won't have to work so hard. Take care of yourself and the child. It's time for him to start school and prepare for the examinations."

"Understood. We had saved thirty-five taels from your previous remittances. With this, we can buy some land," Qin Cao said.

She took the ingots, examined them, and carefully studied the three hundred-tael notes. She wrapped them in red cloth and hid them in her dowry chest. She took out some loose silver for daily expenses and locked the chest, creating a sense of security and warmth in the home.

She kept the key close to her and, blushing slightly, asked, "Will you go out again?"

Lü Shangjing, seeing her nervousness and the way she subconsciously rubbed her feet, reminiscent of her younger self, felt a surge of emotion. Despite her weariness, she looked radiant and beautiful. He embraced her and said, "For now, I will stay home with you."

Qin Cao, losing her usual sharpness, replied, "Good... Oh, why—"

But she was pushed onto the bed, and the lamp was blown out.

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