Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 37

“Have you heard? The son of Tang Xiucai passes the exam and ranks first!”

“Did you hear that the child adopted by the Lu family passes the exam and ranks first? The Lu family is so lucky. It seems they will rise to prominence with this child in the future.”

Such words have been circulating countless times these past few days. 

When Tang Dingyuan is admitted to Tianxia Academy before, everyone already envies the Lu family. Now that Tang Dingyuan passes the provincial exam, taking first place, people’s jealousy only intensifies.

Many villagers feel pangs of regret at night, wishing they are the ones who adopt Tang Dingyuan. However, most only think it silently, knowing that if they had adopted Tang Dingyuan, they likely wouldn’t have been able to send him to school as the Lu family does, giving him the chance to secure his future.

Thus, the Lu family and Tang Dingyuan mutually benefit each other—there’s no room for jealousy, even if one wants to be envious. 

But not being jealous of the Lu family doesn’t mean they aren’t envious of Lu Jiafu. With his character, he manages to secure such an excellent son-in-law in Tang Dingyuan. Not only outsiders, but even the other two branches of the Lu family find this hard to accept.

“I just feel bad for Tang Dingyuan—how could he end up with such a father-in-law and mother-in-law? If it were Lu Jiafeng or Lu Jiahou, they’d be a hundred times better than those two.”

A group of women washing clothes along the river can’t help but discuss the child marriage between Tang Dingyuan and Lu Baobao.

It’s rare to rank first in the imperial examination at just seventeen. Although Tang Dingyuan hasn’t returned yet, the Lu family already receives several waves of gifts. These gifts come from the stewards of prominent families in the county. For such influential people to send gifts to a scholar, it’s clear they see great promise in Tang Dingyuan’s future.

In everyone’s opinion, with Tang Dingyuan’s character and appearance, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Wenquxing itself has descended from the heavens.

(Translator’s Notes: 文曲星 (Wenquxing) is a deity in Chinese mythology and folk religion associated with scholarly talent, literature, and academic success.) 

Now that he’s still so young, wealthy merchants and minor officials alike likely want to marry their daughters to him. But, alas, Lu Jiafu, a crafty man, arranges early on to marry off his daughter to Tang Dingyuan. It’s fortunate enough if their family doesn’t drag the young scholar down—how could they possibly help him?

“Don’t say that. The girl from the second branch is actually quite outstanding. She seems more diligent than her parents. Doesn’t she often help her cousin with business?” Someone speaks up in defense of Lu Baobao.

“What’s the use of good looks? When Yuan Ge’er becomes a high-ranking official in the future, what kind of women couldn’t he get?” Some scoff at this view—beauty fades. How could someone as clever as Yuan Ge’er not understand that? Of course, such an important decision as choosing a wife can’t be based on appearance alone.

“What’s the point of saying so much? Scholars care most about their reputation. When the Lu family raises him, Lu Jiafu suggests making him a son-in-law and supports him through his studies. Lu Jiafu is good to him. If Yuan Ge’er breaks the engagement, he would be seen as ungrateful. What scholar would want to bear such a reputation?”

The person who says this is rather perceptive, and his words convince some in the crowd.

“Yuan Ge’er has really been wronged.”

“Lu Jiafu really takes advantage of him.”

The crowd falls silent, and after a long pause, they speak again, feeling pity for Tang Dingyuan while thinking Lu Jiafu’s family is remarkably fortunate.

This is actually a common reaction. The Lu Jiafu couple has always been looked down upon by the villagers. They lack admirable qualities, aren’t particularly kind or hardworking, and don’t even exhibit the simple virtues that most farmers hold dear.

Yet now, this couple—looked down upon by others—is about to become the in-laws of a very promising scholar. In the future, when Tang Dingyuan passes the imperial examination, becomes a juren, a jinshi, and eventually an official, they too will be addressed as the master and madam. How infuriating.

They’ve never worked hard a day in their lives. They rely on their parents in the first half and their children in the second, yet they live better than the rest. Just thinking about it makes people uncomfortable.

It’s not that anyone wishes ill upon Lu Jiafu’s family. No one wants to see them poor and destitute. They just don’t want them to live so much better than the rest; as long as they aren’t more prosperous than most, everyone can bear with it.

“Hmph, if Yuan Ge’er isn’t truly willing to marry her, how well can things go for them in the future?” someone mutters in discontent, and this statement causes a flicker of understanding among the aggrieved.

Yes, if Tang the young scholar is only marrying Lu Jiafu’s daughter out of obligation, can they really expect to benefit from this marriage in the long run? 

Now, Tang the scholar might feel bound by gratitude, but what about Tang the Juren, Tang the Jinshi, Tang the official in the future?

If Lu Jiafu is wise, he might as well call off the engagement now, treating Tang Xiucai with kindness and respect. In the future, when Tang Xiucai marries a woman whose family can support his success, he’ll surely remember Lu Jiafu’s generosity and won’t treat him, his adoptive father in name, unfairly.

On the other hand, if Lu Jiafu insists on marrying his daughter to Tang Dingyuan, then while young Scholar Tang might not resist the marriage now, charmed by the Lu girl’s beauty, what about ten years down the line when her beauty fades? What about when he realizes the significance of having an influential family to support him—especially when he has no kin of his own to rely on?

By then, Tang Dingyuan might end up resenting and hating them.

With this thought, people start to feel pity for Lu Baobao once again, while feeling a bit ashamed for these petty speculations borne out of jealousy. 

But in truth, it seems quite realistic.

“Shh, Lu Jiafu’s wife is coming over.”

Xu Jiaoniang’s arrival interrupts the conversation. Everyone falls silent, puts on a different expression, and begins congratulating Xu Jiaoniang. The atmosphere quickly turns lively and harmonious.

******

It isn’t until five days after the exam results are posted that Tang Dingyuan and the others return to Sandangkou. After the results are released, the education official holds a banquet for all the successful scholars. Then there are invitations from fellow students—many are gatherings he can’t avoid. When they return to Yuyang County, Tang Dingyuan also takes the chance to visit his teacher at the academy. These various gatherings delay their return.

Sandangkou is thrilled to welcome back a newly appointed scholar. On the day they return, the villagers line the streets to greet them, and Old Butcher Lu, in high spirits, slaughters a plump pig and holds a lavish feast.

The Lu family has always revered scholars; otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent all their sons to study. Now, even if their own sons haven’t succeeded, their son-in-law brings them honor. Their joy is nearly the same.

That evening, after the feast, the women of the house tidy up and retire to their rooms. The men, exhausted from a day of entertaining, finally rest.

Creek—

Lu Baobao quietly opens her door, peeking out to ensure no one is around. Seeing the coast clear, she quickly slips out, shuts the door, and tiptoes to Tang Dingyuan’s room.

It seems he has been waiting a while, for he pulls her inside even before she can knock.

“You—”

Lu Baobao is just about to cross her arms defensively to stop his mischievous behavior when she sees Tang Dingyuan take a box out from behind him. His movements are completely proper, without a trace of the bold actions she had expected.

It seems her own little mischievous mind has misjudged a gentleman’s heart.

Seeing her stare blankly at the box, Tang Dingyuan nudges it toward her again. “We agreed early on—I’d never hide private money from you like our father did,” he says in a mock-serious tone.

The truth, however, is that his secret stash has been exposed, so he can’t hide it any longer. Not that he’s snuck a silver note from the box into the pillow’s lining or buried a silver ingot in the flowerpot soil—of course not.

Lu Baobao is stunned. She hadn’t expected him to remember something from so many years ago. Thinking about her own secret stash under his closet, even she, with her thick skin, feels a pang of guilt.

“This… so much?” she asks, opening the box to reveal a thick stack of small-denomination silver notes and five large silver ingots, totaling over three hundred taels.

“When I publish my first volume, I’m not famous yet, and the bookstore only pays twenty taels to buy it out. But since the first volume sells well, they redraft the contract for the second one. Besides a one-hundred-tael advance, I get half a tael for each copy sold. This time, after visiting my teacher, I drop by the bookstore. Most of the money here comes from royalties,” he explains.

Lu Baobao is amazed by the wealth in front of her. She has seen large amounts of silver when managing accounts for her cousin, but none of it has been hers. Unlike this box…

“We… we actually have money. Are you really letting me handle all this silver?” Her throat feels dry as she speaks, realizing that only his wife would have the right to manage his silver.

Feeling a little shy, she tries to compose herself, pinching her voice to make a formal remark.

“Well, the silver’s yours,” he says, smiling. “And so am I.”

Tang Dingyuan’s palms are sweaty from nervousness. He feels anxious. In his mind, the good girl should happily jump into his arms, praise him for being wonderful and capable, and declare her love for him. 

But there are no hugs or compliments, and he feels like he has missed out.

“Tomorrow, I want to invite you to do something with me.”

Tang Dingyuan pushes aside his little disappointment and cheers up, explaining his thoughts to Lu Baobao. Upon hearing this, Baobao nods in agreement. 

Just as she is about to leave Tang Dingyuan’s room, Lu Baobao suddenly turns around, jumps up, and kisses him. Unfortunately, lacking experience, she jumps too high and ends up kissing his nose instead, accidentally biting her lip in the process.

“Um—”

Embarrassed by her clumsiness, Lu Baobao holds the box with one hand while covering her mouth with the other. She quickly slips back to her room without looking back, leaving Tang Dingyuan alone. After a moment, he reaches up and touches his nose, still in shock.

It seems… It seems like he has still gained something.

Tang Dingyuan’s face flushes as he drifts back to his bed like a wandering soul, wondering what kind of dreams await him that night.

******

Early the next morning, Tang Dingyuan and Lu Baobao set out to visit many families in Sandangkou Village. 

His father has passed away shortly after collecting the tuition fees, and all the valuable items in the house have been used for medical bills, so the fees are never refunded. Tang Dingyuan remembers each family that has given tuition fees, and today he and Baobao go from house to house to repay them.

The tuition has been two taels, along with chickens, ducks, and other festival gifts. Tang Dingyuan not only returns the principal but also adds some interest. 

He also gives gifts to the villagers who have provided rice, flour, grain, and oil to the Lu family after they adopted him.

In fact, the villagers have forgotten about these old matters long ago and have never thought to ask Tang Dingyuan for what the Tang family owes them. Nobody expects that the things everyone else has forgotten are still fresh in Tang Dingyuan’s mind.

This child values old friendships and remembers his benefactors; at that moment, the villagers feel nothing but admiration for him.

Of course, the villagers are equally impressed by Lu Baobao, who accompanies Tang Dingyuan as he visits every household to express gratitude. By bringing her along during such an important moment, Tang Xiaoxiucai makes it clear that he recognizes her as his future wife.

Now she accompanies him to repay the debts his parents incur while they are alive. They are a united couple, and there is no one more deserving of the title of daughter-in-law of the Tang family than Lu Baobao.

Many of those who receive the silver are the same ones who had previously gossiped about the couple. Watching the harmonious and understanding relationship between them, they feel ashamed and are left speechless. 

The rumors about their marriage gradually faded because of Tang Dingyuan’s actions.

******

The Lu family has already begun preparing for the weddings of their two children next year. 

One day, while picking spices on the back mountain, Lu Xiuyu finds an injured man. 

Lu Baobao suddenly realizes that the plot has already reached this point.