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

On the eighth day of the tenth month, Lu Qingyan returned to Lu Family Village.

Before even entering the village, a crowd had gathered at the entrance. Upon seeing him, someone shouted, "The scholar has returned!" and the crowd surged forward. Leading the way was Clan Chief Lu, with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane, his face full of wrinkles from smiling.

"Qingyan! Our Lu family's star scholar has returned!"

Lu Qingyan quickly dismounted from the donkey and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Grandpa Clan Chief."

"Good, good, good!" Clan Chief Lu helped him up, looking him up and down. "You've lost weight, but you look more energetic! Good boy, you've brought honor to the Lu family!"

The clansmen surrounded him to offer their congratulations, one holding his hand, another patting his shoulder. Lu Qingyan responded to each greeting, his gaze passing through the crowd to see his parents, elder brother, and sister-in-law standing at the courtyard gate. Zhao Shi was wiping away tears, Lu Tiezhu stood up straight, Lu Dashan grinned, Lu Xiaoshan waved to him, and Yunniang smiled, supporting her pregnant belly.

Having finally escaped the crowd and reached his doorstep, Zhao grabbed his hand, tears streaming down her face before she could speak: "You're back...it's good you're back..."

"Mother, I'm back." Lu Qingyan grasped his mother's hand and then looked at his father, "Father."

Lu Tiezhu nodded emphatically, his eyes also a little red: "Come inside, let's talk inside."

The courtyard was already set up—three square tables were pushed together to form a long table, laden with dishes. Chicken, duck, fish, and meat were all present, along with several seasonal vegetables, clearly prepared with care. Several village elders and the Lu Tiechuan family had arrived and were sitting and talking.

Seeing Lu Qingyan enter, everyone stood up. Lu Tiechuan strode forward and patted him forcefully on the shoulder: "Good lad! Seventh place! Your uncle is proud!"

Wang Xiu smiled and handed over some tea: "You must be tired from the journey, please sit down and rest."

Lu Qingyan greeted everyone and sat down next to the clan leader—a seat specially reserved for him, next to the main seat. Lu Hai sat opposite him, his expression indifferent. Only when Lu Qingyan looked over did he force a smile: "Congratulations, cousin Qingyan."

The banquet began. Clan Chief Lu raised his glass first, offering many words of encouragement, nothing more than wishing for honor to the family and the revitalization of the clan. The others echoed his sentiments, taking turns toasting Lu Qingyan. Lu Qingyan humbly accepted, offering tea in lieu of wine.

After several rounds of drinks, the conversation flowed more freely. The Lu clan chief patted Lu Qingyan's hand and said to everyone, "Our Lu family's future rests on Qingyan. Although Wenxiu passed the exam, he's too old, and his future is limited. Qingyan is only nineteen; he'll surely become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and have a bright future!"

These words were blunt, and there was a moment of silence at the table. Lu Wenxiu was also a member of the Lu family, thirty-five years old this year, and had barely passed the provincial examination. The Lu family patriarch's words were tantamount to cutting off his future path.

Lu Qingyan hurriedly said, "Brother Wenxiu has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and is very accomplished. He will surely achieve great things in the future."

Clan Chief Lu waved his hand: "Don't be modest. In recent years, our clan has only produced two scholars like you. But you are young and different." He then looked at Lu Tiechuan, "Tiechuan, the clan can help you with the expenses for writing materials in your shop in the future. Qingyan's studies are important, and his expenses cannot be lacking."

Lu Tiechuan smiled and agreed. Lu Hai, sitting opposite him, suddenly spoke up: "Grandpa Clan Chief, the writing materials in my father's shop are all for legitimate business. My cousin Qingyan is now a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations, so he has his own stipend and income from writing stories. He probably doesn't lack these things."

The atmosphere at the table became subtle.

Wang Xiu gently kicked her son under the table, but still smiled and said, "Hai'er is right. Qingyan is capable, and we, as elders, are just happy about that."

Clan Chief Lu seemed oblivious to the barb in his words, simply nodding, "Qingyan is capable. But the family should support him." He then turned to Lu Qingyan, "If you don't have enough travel expenses when you go to the capital for the imperial examination next year, the clan will cover it. The ancestral hall also has several acres of sacrificial land; some of the income can be used."

These words were even harsher. The sacrificial fields were clan property, and the proceeds had always been used for sacrifices and the repair of ancestral halls; there was never any record of them being used to subsidize individual candidates for the imperial examinations.

Just as Lu Qingyan was about to decline, Lu Hai said coldly, "Grandpa Clan Chief's favoritism is too obvious. The clan didn't say it would pay for Cousin Wenxiu's travel expenses to the capital."

"Hai'er!" Lu Tiechuan called out in a low voice.

Lu Hai pursed his lips, stopped talking, but picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

The atmosphere became somewhat tense in the latter half of the banquet. Clan Chief Lu seemed oblivious, only offering words of encouragement to Lu Qingyan. Lu Tiechuan and Wang Xiu tried to smooth things over, while Lu Tiezhu and Zhao Shi sat quietly, occasionally responding. The Lu brothers buried their heads in their food, and Yunniang gently tended to Taohua and Shunhua.

After a long and difficult time, the banquet ended and the clansmen were seen off. It was already high in the sky.

Zhao and Yunniang cleared the dishes, while the Lu brothers helped move the tables and chairs. Lu Qingyan wanted to help, but Zhao stopped him, saying, "You should rest; you've had a long day on the road."

Back in his room, the oil lamp was already lit. The room had been renovated; the walls had been freshly painted, the window paper was newly pasted, and the bed, table, and chairs were all new. On the desk were neatly arranged the Four Treasures of the Study, along with a stack of books—his old ones, the pages of which were in excellent condition.

Lu Qingyan sat down, but couldn't sleep. He recalled Lu Hai's sarcastic remarks at the banquet, and the clan leader's undisguised favoritism. Such was the fickle nature of human relationships within the clan. When his family was poor, no one cared; now that he had passed the imperial examination, he had become the hope of the entire clan.

But behind this hope, how many eyes are watching, how many schemes are being plotted?

He shook his head, dismissing the thought. He spread out paper, ground ink—there were still several months before he left for the capital for the imperial examinations, and he couldn't stop reading his stories. The profits from the Yawen Bookstore were now a crucial source of income for him, and also the foundation for his future foothold in the capital.

With a stroke of his pen, he began writing a new story. The protagonist was no longer a poor scholar, but a constable burdened with a wrongful conviction, who meticulously investigated and uncovered the truth behind the old case. The plot had to be more intricate, and the writing style more sophisticated. He wrote with great focus, often for an entire hour at a time.

A soft knock came from outside the window. Lu Xiaoshan came in carrying a bowl of sweet soup: "Mother asked me to bring this. She said you're having trouble writing at night."

"Thank you, Second Brother." Lu Qingyan took the sweet soup, which was still warm.

Lu Xiaoshan didn't leave immediately. He stood by the table for a while, looking at the stack of manuscript papers filled with writing: "Third brother, isn't writing this book tiring?"

"Not tired, it's just something I do." Lu Qingyan smiled. "How's the bonsai coming along, Second Brother?"

"I made a few more new ones. Mr. Lin said last time that merchants from the south liked them and asked me to make more." Lu Xiaoshan's eyes lit up when he talked about his craftsmanship. "I tried the openwork carving technique; the bamboo leaves let the light through, and they look beautiful."

The two brothers talked for a while. Before leaving, Lu Xiaoshan suddenly whispered, "Third brother, don't take what was said at the banquet to heart. Haitang is just like that. Grandfather, the clan chief, was only trying to help you."

"I know," Lu Qingyan nodded. "Don't worry, Second Brother."

After Lu Xiaoshan left, Lu Qingyan finished his sugar water and continued writing. He wrote for another hour before putting down his pen.