A Poor Man's Son-in-Law: He Picks Up the Daughter of a Duke's Mansion at the Start

October 3rd, Lujia Village, Yongning County.

The midday sun was warm, and Zhao was drying the newly harvested cotton in the yard. Yunniang sat under the eaves making baby clothes; her belly was already quite large, and she would give birth in another month or so. Lu Xiaoshan was planing wood in the work shed, leaving wood shavings piled up on the ground, filling the air with the scent of wood.

Suddenly, the sound of a gong came from the village entrance.

Clang—Clang—Clang—

Immediately following was the sound of horses' hooves and the rough shouts of the yamen runners: "Good news—Master Lu Qingyan of Lujia Village in Yongning County has achieved the seventh-highest rank in the provincial examination of the eleventh year of Yonghe (1721)!"

The cotton basket in Zhao's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter".

She froze for a moment, then lifted her skirt and ran out of the courtyard, her legs even more nimble than in her youth. Yunniang quickly got up to help her, but Lu Xiaoshan had already rushed out of the work shed: "Mother! Slow down!"

"It's Qingyan... Qingyan passed the imperial examination!" Madam Zhao's voice trembled, but her face was beaming with joy.

On the village road, three yamen runners rode up on horseback, the first of them holding aloft a scroll of red paper. Villagers poured in from all directions, gathering by the roadside.

"Is it really the third son of the Lu family?"

"Seventh place! Ya Kui!"

"Incredible! Incredible!"

The yamen runners reined in their horses in front of the Lu family's courtyard, unfurled the victory report, and read it aloud. The golden characters dazzled in the sunlight. Zhao listened, tears streaming down her face, yet her lips curled into a wide smile. Lu Tiezhu rushed back from the fields, forgetting to put down his hoe, carrying it on his shoulder. Lu Dashan followed behind, his face also filled with disbelief and joy.

After the announcement was read aloud, the head constable beamed and handed over the report: "Congratulations, Master Lu! Congratulations, Master Lu!"

According to custom, a celebratory gift of money should be given. Zhao wiped away her tears, turned around and walked into the house—not to rummage through the chests and cabinets, but to go straight to the newly made elmwood chest on the kang (heated brick bed). Inside the chest were several silver ingots neatly stacked, the money she had saved from selling bonsai over the past six months. She picked out a five-tael ingot, grabbed a handful of copper coins, wrapped them in red paper, and walked out steadily and gracefully.

"Gentlemen, you've had a long journey. Please have some tea before you go." She handed over the red paper packet, her voice still choked with emotion, but her hands didn't tremble at all.

The constable accepted the gift, weighed it, and his smile became even more genuine: "Madam Lu, you're too kind! Your son is young and promising; he's sure to have a bright future!"

The villagers watching clicked their tongues in admiration. Not for the silver ingot—everyone in the village knew the Lu family's bonsai business was thriving, bringing in income every month—but for Zhao's composure. Three years ago, she probably wouldn't have been able to speak properly in such a situation.

After the yamen runners left, the courtyard and surrounding area became bustling with activity. Clan Chief Lu arrived, leaning on his cane, followed closely by the clan elders. One suggested hanging a plaque in the ancestral hall, another suggested opening the hall for ancestral worship. Zhao responded to each suggestion, serving tea and water, offering candy and fruit, her back ramrod straight.

In the afternoon, Lu Tiechuan and Wang Xiu arrived from town. As soon as Wang Xiu entered, she took Zhao's hand and said, "Sister-in-law, I knew Qingyan was going to be successful!" She then took out a brocade box from her bosom, inside which was a pair of heavy silver bracelets. "These are for Yunniang, to congratulate her on her double happiness."

Yunniang hurriedly declined, but Wang Xiu insisted on putting it on her: "Wear it! This is a blessing you deserve."

As evening fell, the guests gradually dispersed. The Lu family courtyard was piled high with gifts—eggs, brown sugar, cloth, and cured meat and pastries from several wealthy families. Zhao directed her son and daughter-in-law to put everything away, a smile always on her face.

Dinner was served, and it was much more lavish than usual. However, Zhao Shi ate very little, only keeping putting food on Yunniang's plate, saying, "Eat more, you're feeling unwell."

"Mother, I can do it myself," Yunniang said softly.

Lu Tiezhu drank two cups of wine and became more talkative than usual: "Qingyan said in his letter that he would return after the Deer Cry Banquet. Judging by the days, it should be within the next few days."

"It just so happens to coincide with the birth of my child," Lu Dashan chuckled. "Double happiness."

"Third brother should be happy to see the house like this when he comes back." Lu Xiaoshan ate his rice, his eyes shining.

After the meal, Zhao didn't rush to clear the dishes. She went into the main room and took a wooden box from the cabinet. Opening it, she found a thick stack of letters—all from Lu Qingyan sent home over the past three years. She read through them one by one, from the earliest one about taking on a book-copying job, to the one about passing the imperial examination, and then to the one from last month about her sister-in-law being pregnant.

Lu Tiezhu walked in and sat down next to her.

"His father," Zhao said softly, stroking the letters, "Qingyan is having a hard time out there."

"Um."

"But things are better for our family now." She looked up, her eyes glistening with tears and a smile. "Look at me today, my hands didn't even tremble when I received the reward money. Before, I wouldn't have dared to even dream of it. With this title of 'successful candidate in the imperial examination,' it's much easier for my family to find spouses."

Lu Tiezhu took her hand. The elderly couple sat there, looking at the letters in the box and the red-background, gold-lettered victory report on the table.

The moonlight outside the window was perfect. Inside the workshop, Lu Xiaoshan lit the lamp again—he wanted to make one more bonsai before his younger brother returned. In the west room, Yunniang touched her belly and hummed a song softly. Lu Dashan chopped firewood for tomorrow in the yard; the axe fell with a steady, powerful sound.

This family is steadily getting better every day.

Meanwhile, in the prefectural city, Lu Qingyan had just received a silver note—fifty taels—from the manager of Yawen Bookstore. This was the profit share for the past three months of his novel, "A Poor Scholar's Success." The letter said the book was selling extremely well in the provincial capital, loved by many readers, and the profit share for the next quarter was expected to be even higher.

Lu Qingyan carefully put away the silver notes and did some calculations. Over the past three years, from reading storybooks, copying books, receiving stipends, and occasionally helping Lin Guangbiao with his documents, he had accumulated nearly two hundred taels of silver. He sent most of it home, and planned to save the rest for his travel expenses to the capital for the imperial examinations next year.

He spread out the paper and began to write a letter home. As the pen touched the paper, he suddenly remembered three years ago, when he had just come into this world, lying on the hard earthen bed, clutching the piece of malt candy that Zhao had given him.

Now that he has passed the imperial examination, his family's life has improved. His eldest brother has started a family, his second brother has found a skill to make a living, and his two younger sisters are studying.

The road ahead is long, but every step is taken with firm footing.

He wrote his last sentence: "My son is well and will be home soon."