Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 28

While the elders chat with Tang Xiuyuan, Tang Dingyuan returns to his room to sort through the things he has brought back. He takes leave not only to celebrate his birthday with his family but also to collect lightweight clothing for spring, summer, and early autumn, along with some thicker underwear to take back to the academy.

Seven years ago, Tang Dingyuan goes to study with Xu Xiucai in Shilipu alongside the two children from the Lu family’s eldest branch. At that time, the eldest son, Lu Baojin, is already twelve years old. Xu Xiucai determines that Lu Baojin lacks talent for studying, so he only teaches him for one year before allowing him to return home. In recent years, Lu Baojin starts learning the skills of castrating pigs and slaughtering livestock from his father, often accompanying him to help with the work.

Three years ago, the family arranged a marriage for Lu Baojin. His new wife, chosen by Lu Miao, is named He. She has a neat and straightforward personality, and despite a bit of dissatisfaction from Jiang Bai’e, the other children in the family like their generous sister-in-law very much.

Last year, He gave birth to a daughter named Chang Le, and the family habitually calls her “Big Sister,” making her the youngest child in the household. Today, He’s father is celebrating his birthday, so Lu Baojin accompanies his wife and daughter back to the He family for a banquet. Otherwise, they would be able to see Big Sister sunbathing in the yard at this time.

Like his elder brother, Lu Baoyin shows little talent for academics. After a few years of study and learning some basic words, he stops attending school. In the last two years, he has been learning about crop cultivation from his third uncle, Lu Jiahou, preparing to become a farmer in the future.

Tang Dingyuan studied with Xu Xiucai for three years. Before his twelfth birthday, Xu Xiucai recommends him for the Tianxia Academy entrance exam. 

The Li Dynasty has 172 Tianxia academies established by the emperor, each with a limited number of students accepted each year and strict age restrictions. Students over the age of fifteen cannot take the entrance exam, and those admitted to the academies are all exceptionally talented. For many people, being accepted into the Tianxia Academy is almost equivalent to achieving official recognition.

Given that Xiuyuan, who is already considered exceptionally talented in the eyes of the villagers of Sandangkou, does not gain admission to the Tianxia Academy, the locals believe Tang Dingyuan has a promising future ahead of him, and the Lu family thinks the same.

Moreover, since the Tianxia Academy waives tuition fees, students only need to cover the cost of writing supplies and a new set of academy clothes each season. The other branches of the Lu family no longer have many complaints about raising an additional child.

In addition to Tang Dingyuan, Baotie from the third branch of the Lu family is also of school age. Like his brothers, he studies under Xu Xiucai from the neighboring village. However, Baotie’s abilities are average, and it is likely that after a few more years of study, he will have to return home to work.

In this generation, only Lu Baoshu from the second branch is not yet of school age. Tang Dingyuan often gives this future brother-in-law extra attention, but that little fellow is also restless, always thinking about going out to play and lacking focus. It’s uncertain whether he has any aptitude for studying.

Tang Dingyuan places the washed thin shirt from the bag into the closet. As he raises his hand to hang it, the sleeves of his college uniform brush against the hairpin in the bag. 

With a “pop,” the hairpin falls to the floor and rolls into the gap beneath the closet.

Kneeling down, Tang Dingyuan leans close to the ground and squints his eyes, spotting the hairpin lodged in the innermost part. He reaches out to retrieve it, but the gap is too narrow—only the slender arm of a little girl could reach it.

After several unsuccessful attempts, he stands up and decides to push the closet aside temporarily to retrieve the hairpin. 

After some effort, he finally manages to move the closet. He bends down to pick up the unfortunate hairpin, but just as he is about to return the closet to its original position, he notices a loose stone brick on the ground near the hairpin.

The area beneath the wardrobe is usually the hardest to clean, accumulating a thick layer of dust. However, it is strange that the stone tile and the section closest to the edge of the wardrobe are remarkably clean. It is as if someone has been reaching in from that angle to dig out that stone, causing less dust to settle there compared to other areas.

Curious, Tang Dingyuan picks up the stone. The thickness of the tile is far less than that of a normal brick, and there is a small wooden box placed in the hollow space beneath it. When Tang Dingyuan opens the lid of the wooden box, he is surprised to find numerous scattered silver coins and several strings of copper coins tied together with red thread. At the very bottom lie two silver notes worth twenty taels each.

Altogether, these items amount to at least sixty or seventy taels, which is no small sum.

How could such a large amount of money be hidden in his room? Tang Dingyuan furrows his brows. He is certain that this money is not hidden by him; if not him, then who could it be?

He quickly rules out the elderly couple. The people from the first and third branches of the Lu family wouldn’t hide money in his room either.

There is no need to mention his second uncle and second aunt; they simply don’t have the means to obtain such money. But apart from them, who else could it be?

Suddenly, a long-buried memory resurfaces. He recalls a time when Second Aunt discovers two hidden stashes of money in the room. Second Uncle admits to one, but he denies the other. At the time, Second Aunt believes he is lying, and even Tang Dingyuan thinks so.

But what if Second Uncle has been telling the truth back then? Then there is only one conclusion. 

She wouldn’t dare to hide silver in Second Uncle and Second Aunt’s room, and her own room is not safe either, as Second Aunt often helps clean it. Given her history of finding Second Uncle’s hidden money, Second Aunt has become fixated on thoroughly cleaning the house. Every once in a while, she does a complete cleaning, exposing any small corners where money could be concealed.

His room is different. Second Aunt avoids suspicion and rarely enters it. Moreover, he studies at the academy all year round and seldom returns home during holidays. Hiding the money in his room is undoubtedly the safest option.

As for the source of the money, it can be fully explained by thinking about the closeness she has with the eldest cousin.

“Heh.”

Tang Dingyuan smiles helplessly as he places the silver back under the stone bricks and then moves the wooden cabinet back into its original position.

He has only known her to be greedy, but he hadn’t expected that, in addition to her greed, she also has a penchant for hoarding money. She probably digs out this small box now and then to count her assets, chuckling like a little squirrel with a stash of food. Or perhaps she has to lie on the ground, struggling to reach this brick, her cheeks and palms coated with dust—like a little white cat that runs to the stove to escape the winter cold, only to emerge blackened with ash.

Why is she so cute? Tang Dingyuan finds himself laughing at his own imagination, but then he thinks about how this money all comes from the eldest cousin to GuiBao, and he feels less happy.

He doesn’t realize that while he still views Lu Baobao as his younger sister, he has begun to harbor a desire to monopolize this fiancée chosen by his elders. Yet, this desire remains shallow, almost negligible, even to himself.

******

“Why are you so useless? You can’t even run after just two laps! At this rate, you’ll end up like the fat pig in our pigpen, with your belly dragging on the ground and struggling to walk.”

Tang Dingyuan gathers his things and steps outside, where he finds Lu Baobao returning with her brother, Baoshu.

Seven years have passed, and the cute little girl has grown considerably. She is taller now and has lost much of the baby fat in her face, revealing the smooth contours of a young girl.

As she enters the yard, she is still pouting and arguing with the little boy beside her. But when she spots Tang Dingyuan, her expression changes. Her almond-shaped eyes widen in surprise, making them look bright and lively, like a kitten.

“Little—Brother Yuan!”

If she hadn’t seen the elders in the yard, she would have blurted out “Little Yuan.” 

Ever since she first let her guard down in front of Tang Dingyuan, Lu Baobao has grown more comfortable around him. She calls him “Brother Yuan” in public and “Little Yuan” in private. She is spoiled and headstrong, directing all her temper toward him.

“Why are you back? Oh, right! Today is your birthday!”

Lu Baobao tugs at Tang Dingyuan’s sleeve. Now, she has to stand on her tiptoes just to reach his shoulder. As she measures the height difference between them, she can’t help but feel that in the time they haven’t seen each other, Little Yuan has grown even taller.

“A gift for you.”

Tang Dingyuan pulls out a red garnet hairpin from his pocket. Today, Lu Baobao has styled her hair in a double flower bud bun, and he inserts the hairpin diagonally to one side. The bright red gem accentuates her fair skin, and the round pomegranate shape is perfect for a young girl, enhancing her cuteness to the fullest.

“Does it look good?”

Although Lu Baobao hasn’t seen the style of the hairpin clearly, her vanity won’t let that stop her. 

She touches the hairpin on her head, adjusting its position slightly, then closes her eyes and turns her head to show off the hairpin from multiple angles.

“It must look good.”

Without waiting for anyone else to answer, she affirms herself first, then bursts into laughter, cupping her face in both hands.

Tang Dingyuan feels a bit regretful for not buying the more expensive hairpin. The one he sees has two delicate chains hanging from it, with tiny golden bells at the ends that jingle when moved. However, because of the gold embellishments, that hairpin is much pricier.

If Lu Baobao were wearing that one, she would look even cuter. Suddenly, Tang Dingyuan feels a desire to earn money.

“Why do you give me a gift on your birthday?” Lu Baobao scolds playfully. “It’s a pity I didn’t know you were coming back today; otherwise, I would have saved some money…”

After saying this, Lu Baobao feels a little guilt, even though she is so thick-skinned. She really doesn’t want to spend money; she always remembers her parents’ fate in the warning dream. Although she and her cousin have a very good relationship now, she can’t guarantee whether her parents might do something to anger her in the future. She doesn’t know how powerful the plot is.

When that time comes, at least the money will ensure they can survive after leaving home.

“I’ll make you a bowl of longevity noodles later.”

Lu Baobao thinks to herself that Little Yuan is so nice; he always brings her gifts whenever he comes back. She should give him something in return.

“Thank you so much.”

Tang Dingyuan looks at the little girl who lies without a hint of embarrassment and silently calls her a little liar in his heart.

***

Is that Dingyuan’s fiancée?

Tang Xiuyuan has never seen such a beautiful girl before. Her aura surpasses that of the proud young ladies from wealthy families.

He turns to glance at the little boy who has come in with her.

The boy is around seven or eight years old and chubby, reminding Tang Xiuyuan of his sister.

“Grandma, I’m hungry!” The little fat boy shouts for food as soon as he enters the house.

Tang Xiuyuan thinks to himself that this little chubby boy’s catchphrase is just like his sister’s, really making one wonder if they ever go without being hungry for even a moment during the twelve hours of a day, aside from when they are sleeping.

He glances outside again; the young girl is writing something with her head down, and soon her face is blocked by some older folks. For some reason, Tang Xiuyuan feels a little disappointed.