Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 38

Lu Miao is delighted by her son’s “thoughtful words,” feeling more and more that she can’t grow old yet. Her second son is so dependent on her, still like a child who hasn’t grown up; how can she not keep an eye on him?

Old Butcher Lu shares this sentiment. Though he is frustrated that his second son and his wife are struggling, he finds renewed energy from it. He feels that he is still needed and not too old to enjoy his life at home.

Lu Jiafeng and Lu Jiahou also want to show their filial piety, but they can’t be as shameless as their second brother. Instead, they vie to say a few words about wanting to support their brother, which is their way of expressing their intentions.

“From now on, you brothers will be three families. Your father and I hope you will always remember the bond of brotherhood that has lasted for decades. Even if you live separately in the future, you must help one another,” Old Butcher Lu says to his three sons and the grandchildren present.

The prosperity of a family is not determined by the abilities of a single individual, but by the collective efforts of many family members. They will form smaller families in the future, but as the head of the family, he hopes they will continue to think of one another and support each other.

The elderly couple looks at the children in the room with satisfaction, envisioning the future of their family.

******

One year later

Today is Lu Baobao’s wedding day, which also coincides with her sixteenth birthday.

Her cousin marries a month earlier, and she comes early this morning to cook a bowl of longevity noodles for her, as well as to help with her hair and makeup.

Tang Dingyuan’s royalties continue to rise. Not long ago, he purchases a small courtyard in the county town, not far from the Tang family, so there is no sense of loss between the two sisters.

On the contrary, with Lu Baobao getting married, the sisters are able to see each other frequently.

The wedding procession outside is approaching. Lu Baobao hears the commotion and keeps peeking outside. Lu Xiuyu, feeling helpless, gives her a nod of permission. Lu Baobao immediately stands up excitedly, runs to the window, and quietly opens a small crack to observe the happenings outside.

With Lu Baobao getting married, the Xu family’s brothers and nephews all come over. Even more daunting is that over the years, the older nephews gradually marry and have children, so there are now quite a few little nephews and nieces aged two or three running around the courtyard.

When Tang Dingyuan walks into Lu’s courtyard and sees dozens of eyes staring at him fiercely, he can’t help but break out in a cold sweat. This daughter-in-law is definitely someone he can’t offend.

“Are you going to be my uncle now, which means I can’t be a cousin to my brothers anymore?”

The speaker is a little nephew who once clamored to marry Lu Baobao when he was a child. Now that he has grown up, he understands that even without Tang Dingyuan, he can’t marry his cousin.

However, this doesn’t stop him from feeling upset. A great opportunity to improve his standing is lost right from the start.

“If you dare bully my cousin, I—I’ll be fierce to you!”

The little boy, still wearing open-crotch pants, stands defiantly in front of Tang Dingyuan, hands on his hips, trying to appear imposing.

“I—I am super fierce.”

Worried that Tang Dingyuan might not believe him, the little rascal even tries to bark like a wolfdog. In his mind, the big black dog in the village, rumored to have wild wolf blood, is the most terrifying creature around.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Tang Dingyuan replies, squatting down to coax his little nephew. How could he bear to bully her?

“Oh, then you are very good.” The little boy nods seriously, even standing on tiptoe to pat Tang Dingyuan’s head. His mother would praise him like this when he behaves well.

This action draws smiles from everyone around, and Lu Baobao, who hides by the window, can’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.

“People are coming soon,” Lu Xiuyu says, glancing at the time and urging Lu Baobao to return.

“Our dear Baobao, you must be happy. Remember, no matter what, your sister will always be your backup.” Lu Xiuyu places the red veil over her beloved Baobao, her eyes reddening and glistening with tears.

“We will all be happy.”

Lu Baobao, hidden beneath the veil, holds her cousin’s hand and nods earnestly. 

Not long after, Tang Dingyuan breaks through the blockade of the Xu family men and enters Lu Baobao’s room. He walks slowly up to her, then bends down and picks her up. 

The two are so close that she can hear his frantic heartbeat and controlled breathing.

As Tang Dingyuan holds her, Lu Baobao’s feet begin to tremble with his firm steps, accompanied by the festive sounds of gongs and drums mingling with the faint sobs of her family. 

After this journey, her life will have a new beginning, and she finds herself looking forward to it…

The end of the small world

************

Extra 1: Later Life

A High School History Class

“Today, the person we’re going to talk about in class should be quite familiar to everyone. That’s right, he is one of the representative authors of ancient vernacular literature and also the top scholar of the 29th year of the Li dynasty—Tang Dingyuan.”

A young female teacher turns around and writes three large characters on the blackboard.

“Is he the author of the popular Sword and Fairy on TV now? He’s amazing! It’s not an exaggeration to call him the originator of cool writing. Many male-oriented works today carry his influence.”

“Yes! I remember that when we were in junior high, the break-up and face-slapping style was all the rage. It turns out this trope has its roots more than a thousand years ago. That guy is really imaginative; before him, ancient vernacular literature is pretty standard.”

The students below have already begun to discuss among themselves. They are indeed very familiar with Tang Dingyuan, especially after his works were adapted into TV series in recent years, particularly Legend of the Sword and Fairy, which has recently aired. This is the earliest script written by Tang Dingyuan, according to historical research, and it broke that year’s ratings record as soon as it premiered.

“This scholar was also an honest official who was deeply loved by the people during his time in office. However, what cemented his place in history were the more than ten stories he wrote before his death. Everyone knows that this scholar had a habit of giving his protagonists the same names: the male lead Lu Dingyuan and the female lead Tang Bao. Many believe he named the male protagonist after himself as a way of imagining himself in another life. Some say the wild ideas in his books reflect his yearning for a different existence. However, others argue that he simply wasn’t good at naming characters and used his own name out of laziness. But I believe this mystery has been solved now.” The young female teacher speaks with excitement, her eyes sparkling as she shares her thoughts.

“Many of you may not know this, but an archaeologist who really admires Tang Dingyuan recently discovered his tomb. It’s a joint burial site where Tang Dingyuan and his wife are interred. The tombstone is inscribed with his wife’s surname—Tang Lu—and several of Tang Dingyuan’s daily essays are also found inside, which frequently mention a phrase: ‘beloved wife Baobao.’ From this, we can infer that Tang Dingyuan’s wife’s full name is Lu Bao, or Lu Baobao. Of course, Baobao could also be a nickname, but that’s not really important.”

The female teacher’s speech quickens. “Tang Dingyuan equals Lu Dingyuan, and Tang Bao equals Lu Baobao. In my name, I bear your surname. Our great playwright encapsulates his love for his wife in every book he writes. Isn’t this the most romantic love story?”

No woman can resist an excellent and infatuated man, and it is clear that this teacher has become a devoted fan of Tang Dingyuan. 

The girls in the audience are all astonished; they could never have imagined that the eternal protagonist name of the great writer Tang, which they often complain about, hides such a wonderful story—”In my name, your surname.”

A scene seems to unfold before everyone’s eyes: a handsome boy stands before a table, holding a petite girl in his arms. He clasps her hand and writes their names on a piece of paper, his expression tender. 

That must be a beautiful love story.

******

Extra 2: Tang Dingyuan Extra (Previous Life)

Tang Dingyuan has always been a very proud child. He relishes the praise of others and loves to do things that earn him admiration. He is known as the smartest, most handsome, and most charming child in the three stalls.

However, everything changes when he is eight years old. His father dies of illness, and his mother chooses to hang herself on the night of his father’s death.

From that day forward, Tang Dingyuan’s life loses half its color.

The Lu family adopts him. The couple is kind and caring, and despite the odds, they send him to a private school, giving him the opportunity to fight for a brighter future. Tang Dingyuan is very grateful to the two elders.

However, in the Lu family, not all the children agree with the couple’s methods because they show favoritism toward one son, who, along with his wife, is not a likable character.

In Tang Dingyuan’s mind, the second uncle of the Lu family is stingy and mean, and his wife wears a gloomy expression all day long, constantly scheming to exploit the community for the sake of her lazy and dim-witted son.

Once, Tang Dingyuan accidentally overhears the old lady sigh, lamenting, “If only Lu Baobao were alive.” 

Hearing this name makes Tang Dingyuan’s heart race a bit. He looks down at his chest in confusion; it seems he has heard this name in a dream before.

Later, Tang Dingyuan learns that his second uncle and aunt have a daughter named Lu Baobao, who tragically lives only to the age of two before dying of a cold. The second uncle and aunt are merely lazy and gluttonous, but after losing that daughter, their temperament changes drastically, especially the aunt, who grows increasingly sullen.

Tang Dingyuan knows that he is just an outsider in the Lu family, so he never interferes in their family matters. In the years leading up to his successful examination at the imperial academy, he watches the eldest daughter of the Lu family slap the second branch in the face, making her life flourish, while the second branch self-destructs until even the elderly couple, who have favored them, can no longer show bias.

In the year Tang Dingyuan passed the imperial examination at the age of 27, Lu Xiuyu, now the wife of a marquis, gave birth to her second child. He reaches out to her for the first time, seeking her help to secure a position as the local magistrate of Yuyang County.

Meanwhile, the Lu Jiafu couple, abandoned in their hometown, squanders the property left to them by the two elders and lives in dire circumstances.

For reasons unknown, Tang Dingyuan begins secretly supporting that family. 

He hires a chef to teach Lu Baoshu, knowing his love for food. This support gradually improves the second wife’s quality of life. At the time, Tang Dingyuan believes he is simply repaying the kindness of the two elders, as Lu Baobao has been their most cherished child.

Tang Dingyuan never marries and has no ambition to seek wealth or promotions; he only desires to be a small magistrate in Yuyang County, the place of his birth.

Then one day, an idea strikes him: he wants to write a story about a protagonist who can be celebrated by all. Since it would be difficult to reveal his name directly, he chooses the surname of his benefactor, naming the protagonist Lu Dingyuan.

And what about the heroine? A best-selling story cannot lack a love element. 

For some reason, he thinks of the girl who dies in the Lu family. 

Why not name her Tang Bao? 

In that moment, an unseen force urges Tang Dingyuan to write this name. 

Looking at the two names tightly connected on the rice paper, the heart that always feels empty is filled at this moment.

The author has something to say:

Tang Dingyuan: I never expected that in the extra chapter of the story, my wife’s and my graves would be dug up by my fans.