Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 17

The funeral for Scholar Tang and his wife was decently arranged. The villagers collected some money and ordered a coffin for them. They were buried next to the graves of the ancestors of the Tang family. Out of respect for the scholar and his wife, the villagers even pooled funds to hire monks from the temple to chant sutras for them because Scholar Tang’s wife commited suicide, which is forbidden in Buddhist teachings.

As the village head predicted, Scholar Tang’s wife’s family showed no intention of raising her orphaned child. They only appeared at the funeral with a group of children, ate and drank, and left immediately afterward. They didn’t even glance at Tang Dingyuan, which made it clear they couldn’t be relied on.

During the days of handling the funeral arrangements, Old Butcher Lu and his wife, Lu Miao, helped out at the Tang household, leaving the butcher stall to be temporarily managed by their eldest son. At first, the Lu family members thought the elderly couple was being overly concerned with the Tang family’s affairs. Many village children study under Scholar Tang, yet no other family elders took such an active role in staying at the Tang home every day.

It isn’t until after the burial of Scholar Tang and his wife, when Old Butcher Lu and Lu Miao bring Tang Dingyuan back to their home, that everyone suddenly understands.

So, the orphan of the Tang family is adopted by the old couple?

For a moment, the Lu family members each have their own thoughts.

“Baojin, take your younger brother to your room. Until we find another place, he’ll sleep with you two brothers. You are the eldest, and you are also his senior brother, so make sure to take good care of your junior brother.” Lu Miao calls the eldest grandson over and hands the silent Tang Dingyuan to him.

“Okay.” Lu Baojin nods happily. 

After the death of his teacher and his wife, he is most worried about Yuan Ge’er. Now that his grandparents have brought Yuan Ge’er home, his worries are finally eased.

“Brother Yuan, I’ll take you to our room.” Lu Baojin takes Tang Dingyuan’s hand and leads him to his and Lu Baoyin’s room. 

“You guys go over and have a look, and talk with Yuan Ge’er.” Lu Miao says this to the other children in the family, though it is clearly an excuse to get them out of the way. “You two stay here. What business do you have going over there with the kids?”

Seeing that the second son and his wife are ready to sneak off, Lu Miao quickly speaks up to stop them. What is about to happen next concerns them as well.

******

Lu Baojin and Lu Baoyin’s room is not large, as it takes up only about two-thirds of the room at most. The other portion is turned into Lu Xiuyu’s room. A wall is built in the middle, splitting the house into two halves.

Because they don’t know Tang Dingyuan will be coming, the Lu brothers haven’t cleaned their room, leaving it a bit dirty and messy. Lu Baojin’s face flushed with embarrassment, likely feeling awkward about letting his junior brother see his disorganized little home.

Neither brother is particularly tidy. Their room is only neat right after their mother cleans it. After some time, things are thrown around haphazardly, and the blankets remain unfolded after they wake up. The room isn’t much better than a doghouse.

“Put your things in this cabinet for now. When Grandpa and Grandma clean up a room for you, you’ll have more space for your stuff.” Seeing that Tang Dingyuan doesn’t seem to mind the mess or laugh at him, Lu Baojin sighs in relief. He then hurriedly stuffs the clothes and pants scattered across the kang, desk, and chairs back into the camphorwood box, clearing out a slightly emptier cabinet for Tang Dingyuan’s things.

“Thank you,” Tang Dingyuan says, his first words since arriving at the Lu family home. His voice, after all the crying, is extremely hoarse, as though it has been scraped with rough paper, producing a harsh rasp that grates on the ears. 

Lu Baojin still remembers how Yuan Ge’er’s voice used to be clear and soothing, as if he were singing.

“Um, do you need my help?” Lu Baojin feels a bit awkward. His younger siblings are all rambunctious troublemakers, tough and hardy, never needing their elder brother’s care. 

But Yuan Ge’er is different. He always seems more noble and reserved. Even at a young age, he has the air of a scholar, wise beyond his years.

Afraid of offending him, Lu Baojin doesn’t dare treat him like a child.

In the past, he has only felt this way when dealing with his second cousin from the second branch of the family. But with Lu Baobao, he isn’t afraid of her—she is just so delicate and cute. She is like a fine porcelain doll, and he, being big and rough, always feels he might break her if he gets too close.

Everyone in the family thinks he is the coldest toward his second cousin, assuming it is because of his mother’s influence. In truth, besides his own siblings, Lu Baojin adores this beautiful cousin the most.

It is a pity that he only dares to admire her from a distance. When he gets close, he becomes so nervous that he can’t speak. 

Because of this, no one ever realizes how he really feels. Even Lu Baobao herself believes her elder cousin doesn’t like her.

“No need.” Tang Dingyuan shakes his head. He hasn’t brought much.

Most of his parents’ belongings have been burned, leaving him with only a purse and a headband. The purse, sewn by his mother, has been used for many years, its embroidery thread now soft and worn. The headband is one of his father’s favorite possessions. Though it is inlaid with a rough and inferior piece of jade, it isn’t valuable. Yet, it remains one of the few “precious” items Tang Xiucai has owned that can still show his status.

The laws of the Li Dynasty impose numerous restrictions on people of different statuses—ordinary citizens are forbidden to wear jade unless they hold a title, an official rank, or are members of the royal family. 

No matter how wealthy or powerful a commoner like Old Butcher Lu might be, he isn’t allowed to wear jade.

As the son of a scholar, Tang Dingyuan can keep the jade-inlaid headband as an heirloom, but until he makes his own achievements, he can’t wear it as an accessory.

Apart from these two relics, he has only a few changes of clothes, a broken inkstone, and a half-used ink stick in his bundle. 

Tang Xiucai’s books have been sold off by his wife long ago, and the inkstone has been kept only because it is damaged, which is seen as bad luck.

All these items take up barely half of the cabinet space, making his possessions seem quite pitiful.

Lu Baobao leans against the door frame, secretly observing Tang Dingyuan.

“Why are you all standing by the door and not coming in?” Lu Baojin is the first to notice his younger brothers and sisters at the door. “From now on, Yuan Ge’er is part of our family. He’s older than you, so you should call him ‘brother.'” 

He waves them inside. In this household, only Lu Xiuyu and Lu Baojin are older than Tang Dingyuan. The others are all younger than him.

“I’m not calling him ‘brother.’ I’m taller than him; he should call me brother.” Lu Baoyin is visibly uncomfortable. Unlike his eldest brother, he clearly doesn’t welcome Tang Dingyuan, viewing him as an intruder.

After all, Tang Dingyuan is the child everyone in the village speaks of in admiration. The elders praise him for being filial, obedient, intelligent, and mature beyond his years. Even Jiang Bai’e, in her frustration with Lu Baoyin’s naughtiness, remarks how wonderful it would be if he were as well-behaved and sensible as the young scholar from the Tang family.

In Lu Baoyin’s eyes, Tang Dingyuan is an enemy. This enemy has invaded his space, threatening to take over his kang, his cabinet, and his desk.

“Don’t make trouble.” Lu Baojin lightly pats his brother’s head

. How can seniority be determined by height? If that were the case, every man in the Lu family would outrank all the men in the village, since the Lu family is known for being tall.

“Anyway, I won’t call him ‘brother.’ He’s only a few months older than me.” Lu Baoyin turns his head, stubborn as ever.

“Brother Tang.” It is Lu Baobao who breaks the awkward silence. Half of her small body is hidden behind her cousin, Lu Xiuxin, but she tilts her head to reveal her whole face and calls out sweetly.

Tang Dingyuan recognizes her—the prettiest child in Sandangkou Village.

He has only seen her from a distance before, but now, up close, she looks even cuter. Is it just his imagination, or has her face become rounder and softer? It makes him want to reach out and pinch her cheeks.

The anxiety he feels about coming to a new home eases slightly with Lu Baobao’s warm greeting.

“Calling him ‘Brother Tang’ sounds like you’re calling both me and Baoyin. How about we think of a different name?” Lu Baojin suggests, realizing that “Brother Tang” sounds too much like “Cousin Tang,” and it isn’t clear which one she is addressing.

“Then… how about ‘Brother Yuan’?” Lu Baobao tilts her head again, charming everyone without even trying.

“Okay, let’s go with that,” Lu Baojin agrees. “Brother Yuan, what do you think?”

“Yeah.” Tang Dingyuan turns his head, pretending to adjust his clothes, though it is really to hide his slightly flushed cheeks.

“That sounds weird! I’m not calling him ‘Brother Yuan.’ From now on, I’ll call you Third Brother! Haha, that means Baotie will have to go from being ‘Little Three’ to ‘Little Four.’” Lu Xiuxin claps her hands, feeling happy about the arrival of another brother in the family.

Lu Baojin is delighted as well. It seems that, except for Baoyin, who is a little awkward, the other cousins welcome the new member with open arms.

“These are some old clothes I sorted out. They belonged to my elder brother and Baoyin before. It’s getting cold, and I think your clothes might be a bit small, so you can wear these for now.” Lu Xiuyu enters with a pile of thick clothes. She is much more considerate than her elder brother, Lu Baojin. Upon seeing that Tang Dingyuan’s clothes are no longer suitable, she decides to help.

Yes, children grow quickly at this age. Last year’s clothes are surely too small for him now. The scholar’s wife has been busy taking care of her husband and hasn’t noticed this.

“They’re all washed and can be worn directly.”

Lu Xiuyu unfolds the clothes she brings and holds them up to Tang Dingyuan. The size is just right. 

Tang Dingyuan feels as if he has truly arrived in a friendly family. Are his parents blessing him from beyond?

******

On the other side, the atmosphere in the main hall of the Lu family is far less relaxed than that of the children.

Old Butcher Lu and Lu Miao have taken in Tang Dingyuan, but given their age, it is clear they cannot raise him themselves. The Lu family will eventually be divided, and the elderly couple can’t guarantee they will remain in good health until Tang Dingyuan is married. Therefore, deciding which branch of the family will raise him is now the pressing issue they need to discuss.

“Second, are you willing to take him in?” Lu Miao speaks, prompting Jiang Bai’e to look up in surprise. 

She has thought this challenging responsibility is destined to fall on them. Why are the two elders not showing favoritism this time?

Author’s Note:

Lu Miao: I’m sorry, I am still partial this time, but it’s a pity that you are too foolish to see it (smile).