Volume 1: Hanyang Chapter 29: Human Life

  Lü Yuán arrived at the dark alley, where it was extremely quiet. She looked around cautiously and didn't see anyone, so she suppressed her doubts and headed towards the direction of her new home.

  Lu Yun returned home early today, and as soon as he arrived, his handsome face was flushed red. Lu Yue looked at him for a while, smiling: "What happened, Ah Yun is so happy?"

  Lu Yun was indeed happy. When his sister asked him, the young man with a changing voice said: "Sister, someone mentioned you to me."

  "Are you talking about me?" Lu Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then she thought of those scattered rumors and smiled: "I suppose many people are comforting you?"

  "Really." Lu Yun walked behind her, "I have a classmate's older brother, he stopped me today and said he knew about your divorce from Zeng Lang. He also said he was very happy." Lu Yun's dark eyes sparkled, "Sister, he stuttered at the time, saying he had liked you for a long time and wanted to come propose. Sister, his family situation is not worse than the Zeng's."

  His own marriage had not yet subsided, and his younger brother was already worried about his own marriage. Lu Xuan sighed silently and shook his head with a smile.

  Lu Yun was getting impatient, "Sister, don't you agree? I've seen that person, he looks quite good, and seems better than the one with the surname Zeng."

  "No." Lu Yuexuan's lips curled up in a faint smile. "Silly Ah Yun, matters of marriage have always been decided by our parents. What does it matter if he likes me? My family and his are not compatible, this is impossible."

  "Is it?" Lu Yun lowered his head.

  He actually knew all this, but a young heart always holds some illusions, and he always felt that his beautiful and unparalleled sister would be recognized by someone with a discerning eye, and that someone would take her home without considering anything.

  After a moment of loss, Lu Yun suddenly remembered that his current state would make his sister uncomfortable. He quickly lifted his head and smiled.

  He was laughing happily, but at this time, Lu Xuan didn't even look at him. She was busy making a fire and cooking, busily enjoying herself. The sunlight shone through the narrow window sill, illuminating Lu Xuan's face, reflecting a peaceful atmosphere. As he looked on, Lu Yun's own restless mind gradually calmed down.

  The next day, Lu Xuan continued writing. At this time, she had read "Zhongyong" several times and memorized some of the paragraphs in the book.

  Put the Doctrine of the Mean away properly, Lu Xun picked up his feet and took out the "Han Feizi" that had been idle on the shelf and put it in a conspicuous place. In his heart, he thought: The Doctrine of the Mean teaches people to do things with a sense of proportion, pay attention to progress and retreat. But if you are too particular, you will inevitably appear weak and easily deceived by petty people. As the saying goes, "A gentleman can be deceived by methods." When I have nothing to do, I'll read Confucian classics and Legalist scriptures together.

  Busy till dusk, Lu Xuan also finished writing seventeen or eighteen characters. Putting the bamboo slips in a basket, Lu Xuan locked the door and headed towards the school where Lu Yun was.

  These days, Lu Xuan has been selling words here and has already put up a sign. Every day, she is surrounded by a group of students who are either intentionally buying words or those young men with budding feelings in their hearts. Facing those pairs of bright and shining eyes that stare at her without blinking, Lu Xuan sometimes thinks to herself, "It turns out that my younger brother has also grown up and has reached the age where he can get engaged."

  Surrounded by the young men, Lu Yue was busy for more than half an hour before selling out all the dozens of words. Just as Lu Yun took his sister's hand, he heard a voice that sounded impatient, "Lu Yue, Lu Yun?"

  The two of them turned their heads at the same time.

  The one calling them was a thirty-year-old fatty, with a big mouth and small eyes. His round face shone with oil in the sunlight, but his smile seemed quite kind when he laughed. Of course, this kindness was only towards people; when facing Lu Xing's siblings, this person would never smile.

  This man is the third in command of the Ping Manor and is subordinate to the two men's maternal grandfather.

  Seeing this, Lu Yun was taken aback and couldn't help but look at his sister. Lu Yue also furrowed her brow, as their status as siblings seemed to not warrant the manager's personal visit.

  In the midst of suspicion, Fat Manager walked up to them. He came before the sister and brother, his face radiant with a hint of curiosity, and after sizing up the siblings who were not too shabby, Fat Manager cleared his throat and said: "A Xue A Yun, the old madam wants to see you two. Time is running out, let's go." Having said that, he turned around and walked towards the ox cart parked on one side.

  The old lady, who was also the great-grandmother of both of them.

  Lu Yu furrowed her brow and thought for a moment before she and her brother quietly climbed onto the oxcart.

  Sitting in the car, none of the three people spoke. Originally, Lu Xuan wanted to ask a question, but seeing Zhang's impatient and disdainful expression, he swallowed his words back.

  In the "ge zi ge zi" sound of the ox cart, Pangzi Guanshi suddenly spoke up, "A Xuan, I heard that you saved a dozen or so students not long ago?"

  Lu Xuan raised her head and glanced at Pangzi Guanshi, responding with a simple "Yes."

  The fatty seemed a bit surprised, he stared at her for a moment before saying lightly: "Can't tell from the looks of it, but you're actually quite clever."

  Lu Ying did not respond.

  "I heard you proposed to cancel the engagement with the Zeng family?"

  "Yes."

  The fatty leader snorted coldly and asked in a bad temper: "Such a big thing, why didn't you inform the elders before taking action?"

  Report to the elders? Lu Xuan coldly smiled and thought to himself: My sister and I have been struggling for many years, and the only kindness we received from the Ping Manor was that wooden house. Now, even that house has been returned.

  Aware of Pingfu's possible movement, Lu Xuan lowered his eyes and said quietly: "My surname is Lu."

  ……

  She said that her surname is Lu and has nothing to do with the Ping government, so should the Pings mind their own business? The fatty looked at Lu Xue in disbelief and asked in surprise: "What did you say? Say it again?"

  Lu Xuan didn't say another word, this fatty was just a servant of the Ping Manor, no matter how arrogant he was in front of outsiders. If she had something to say, she would naturally tell the old lady of the Ping Manor herself.

  When he saw Lu Ying's arrogant appearance, Pangzi couldn't believe his eyes. He remembered that a few months ago when he saw this little girl, she was timid and humble, with an expression that was both stubborn and lowly. What gave her such great courage? Was it just because of that one rescue? But she accidentally saved someone, does she really think she's clever?

  Pangzi Guanshi shook his head and said slowly: "Ah Yue, do you remember what your grandmother used to say?"

  "Last year during the ancestral worship, you two siblings didn't have the qualifications to participate, but you still came to watch. Remember when Old Lady told you that a person's fate is born in heaven? Some are born rich and noble, while others are poor and lowly. You Lu family are just a declining household, don't think that just because your family has a few more books, you're some kind of high-ranking aristocratic family with legitimate sons and grandsons coming out one after another. Remember this, Lu Ayun, Lu Aying, you two are from a declining household."

  After repeating the words of Pingfu Prefecture's old lady, he paused for a moment and said in a harsh tone: "Being able to marry Zeng Changzhi was the greatest blessing of your life. Now that you don't want this blessing, it's because you have bad luck. Don't think that passing the imperial examination, becoming a scholar or being a government official has anything to do with people like you. That is absolutely impossible! People, if they don't have the fate, should learn to be content with their lot!"

  Listening, Lu Yun's face suddenly turned bright red, and Lu Yue also pursed her lips and straightened her back. The siblings hadn't spoken yet when a low, pleasant laugh came from outside, "Who are they talking about?"