The woman before her appeared to be in her thirties. Tang Wan guessed she must be the mistress of the Lu household—Lu Zheng's stepmother. Smiling, she stepped forward and said, "Auntie, I'm from the Tang family in Elm Tree Alley. You can call me Wan Niang. This is my younger brother, Tang Mu. A few days ago, I fell into the water and nearly lost my life. Fortunately, Second Brother Lu came to my rescue. It took me a couple of days to recover, so I thought I'd come in person to express my gratitude."
As she spoke, she slightly lifted the bamboo basket in her hand and pulled back the cotton cloth covering it, revealing neatly arranged corn cakes inside, with a fine piece of pork belly tucked alongside.
This woman was indeed Wang Yinhua, Lu Zheng's stepmother. Her eyes swept over the contents of the basket before she looked Tang Wan up and down.
"I heard about that incident. So it was you."
In truth, Wang Yinhua had guessed the siblings' identities the moment she laid eyes on them but deliberately pretended not to recognize them.
That day, Lu Zheng had rescued a girl and returned home drenched, witnessed by many neighbors along the way. Lately, there had been no shortage of gossip.
Initially unaware of the specifics, Wang Yinhua had recently caught wind of some rumors and felt increasingly uneasy.
It was said that the Tang girl who was rescued had tried to drown herself after her engagement was broken off. Lu Zheng, who usually minded his own business, had gone out of his way to save such a person.
With her previous marriage prospects gone, what if this girl, desperate to secure another match, decided to cling to him?
Lu Zheng was stubborn and difficult to control. Wang Yinhua had long made arrangements for his marriage, but despite her repeated hints, he refused to comply—not even listening to his father.
Wang Yinhua scrutinized the Tang girl. Fair and pretty, yes, but her family was destitute. Why else would her engagement have been broken?
With these thoughts, a trace of disdain surfaced on her face.
She replied indifferently, "Lu Zheng isn't home."
Noticing her cold demeanor, Tang Wan didn't think she had offended the woman in any way, assuming it was just her nature. She continued with a smile, "Auntie, do you know when he'll be back? I'd like to thank him in person…"
Wang Yinhua scoffed inwardly, thinking, "Just as I expected." Her tone grew even more dismissive. "The army is busy with spring plowing these days. He's hardly ever home."
Even if Tang Wan were slow to catch on, she could sense the underlying meaning now. Though she didn't understand the woman's motives, she had no intention of persisting where she wasn't welcome.
After all, her savior was Lu Zheng, not this inexplicable stepmother.
"In that case, we'll take our leave and return another day."
Tang Wan smiled, turned to beckon Tang Mu, and prepared to leave.
Wang Yinhua was taken aback, watching as Tang Wan casually covered the basket with the cloth and slung it over her arm. Was she really taking the gifts back with her?
Wang Yinhua's sharp eyes had already noted the golden corn cakes and the fresh, high-quality pork belly in the basket—both in generous portions.
If not for these, why would she have bothered chatting at the door for so long?
They said the Tang family was educated and literate, yet their daughter had no manners—who ever heard of taking gifts back halfway?
Fuming, Wang Yinhua felt a headache coming on. Too proud to ask for the items outright, she stomped her feet in frustration before retreating indoors.
On their way back, Tang Mu hesitantly asked Tang Wan, "A-jie, is it really appropriate to bring the gifts back since we didn't manage to give them away?"
Tang Wan snorted, "What does it matter? Lu Zheng isn't home anyway."
She looked at Tang Mu, "Didn't you see how that woman looked at us? As if we were some kind of filth."
Tang Mu had noticed it too, frowning slightly, "Why would she act like that? We haven't offended her."
Tang Wan didn't know either and couldn't be bothered to speculate, "If she dislikes us, she probably won't appreciate our gifts either. Rather than forcing ourselves to deliver them, we might as well keep these things. We can come back next time Lu Zheng returns home."
Tang Mu nodded with a smile, "A-jie, I helped some army brothers write letters recently. I'll ask them to find out when Second Brother Lu will be on leave."
"Good."
The siblings chatted cheerfully as they walked out of Blue Stone Alley, preparing to circle back to Elm Tree Alley, when suddenly the clip-clop of horse hooves sounded from ahead.
Looking up, they saw two riders approaching. The figures on horseback were tall and looked travel-worn.
Tang Mu's eyes lit up as he recognized them first, calling out loudly, "It's Big Brother Lu and Second Brother Lu!"
As he spoke, both men reined in their horses and dismounted smoothly.
Tang Wan stared blankly as the two approached, her first thought being how exceptionally tall they were.
Perhaps because they were soldiers, both carried a certain martial aura. Even though they stopped about three or four meters away from the siblings, one could still feel their intangible presence.
Both men had broad shoulders and narrow waists, standing straight and tall—especially the younger one whose thin lips were pressed together, his features sharp and handsome enough to rival modern entertainment stars.
Tang Wan couldn't help stealing a few more glances, her mind suddenly flashing back to that day in the water, remembering the feeling of being held tightly by those strong arms. She could almost recall the warmth of his muscles against her back, causing her eyes to flicker before she looked away.
Lu Duo greeted them first in a casual tone, "Wan Niangzi, Mu Ge'er, what brings you here?"
Tang Wan quickly collected herself, smiling as she replied, "We came looking for Second Brother Lu. We owe him thanks for that day. We should have come sooner to express our gratitude, but at the time…"
Lu Duo nodded, "I heard Lu Zheng mention that you were unconscious when you returned home. Are you feeling better now?"
"Thank you for your concern, Big Brother Lu. I'm much better." As she spoke, Tang Wan remembered something and took out the empty clay bowl from her basket, offering the remaining items along with the basket.
"These are some freshly made pancakes and a piece of fresh pork belly. We originally intended to bring them to your home, and now we've happened to meet you here."
Lu Duo didn't accept it, instead glancing at Lu Zheng who stood nearby.
Only then did Tang Wan realize he was the one who should receive the gifts. She quickly offered the basket to Lu Zheng, her tone more sincere than before, "Thank you for saving me that day, Second Brother Lu."
Lu Zheng's expression was somewhat tense. He gave an almost imperceptible nod and cleared his throat before saying, "In that situation, anyone would have lent a hand… There's no need for thanks."
Tang Wan smiled softly, "They're nothing special—just some pancakes. With spring planting keeping everyone busy in the fields, you might not make mealtimes. You can take them as dry provisions to avoid going hungry."
As she spoke, her gaze rested on Lu Zheng's face, her clear dark eyes sparkling.
Lu Zheng pressed his lips together but didn't refuse further. Lowering his head, he reached out and accepted the basket.
Tang Wan noticed his palms were large, his fingers long and slender with distinct knuckles. The back of his hands bore some fine, scattered scars, evidence of habitual rough work, yet his grip was surprisingly gentle when he took the bamboo basket.
Lu Duo glanced at his younger brother, then at the siblings before him, and said with a smile, "Why not come to our home for a visit?"
Tang Wan waved her hand lightly, replying with a warm smile, "We’ve just been there, so we won’t intrude again. We’ve heard the army has been busy with spring plowing these past few days, so we won’t keep you. Once this busy period is over, we’ll come by to bother you again."
Indeed, it was a hectic time. Besides guarding the Northern Border and defending against foreign threats, the garrison troops also had the task of reclaiming wasteland for farming. Some families, like the Tangs, leased their land to tenants for cultivation, while others, like the Lus with their larger household, farmed the land themselves. After all, leasing land meant sharing a portion of the harvest, and after paying the official grain tax, little remained. If there was enough labor, farming it themselves was naturally more economical.
In recent days, they had rushed to complete the farming tasks for the military camp’s fields and were now heading home to fetch seeds, preparing to work on their own land outside the city.
"That’s fine too. Once things settle down, come over for a meal," Lu Duo said, without further pleasantries, as he swung back onto his horse.
"Alright, we’ll head back now."
The Tang siblings stepped back slightly, watching as the two horses turned into the entrance of Blue Stone Alley.
Tang Wan withdrew her gaze and looked at her brother. "Shouldn’t our family’s spring plowing begin as well?"
Tang Mu gave a noncommittal hum, his expression hesitant.
"Last year, Father mentioned wanting to change tenants. Our thirty acres of land were leased to the Wu brothers, but the harvests have been dwindling year after year. After deducting the official grain tax and their share, almost nothing remains. It’s hard to say whether the harvests were genuinely poor or if…"
He didn’t elaborate, but Tang Wan understood.
Either the Wu brothers were negligent, or they weren’t entirely honest and were withholding grain.
"Still, if we were to make a change, we should have started earlier. At this point, it’s probably too late, and we might have to wait another year."
Tang Wan thought for a moment and said, "What if… we go take a look outside the city? Have we ever even seen our family’s fields?"
Tang Mu was taken aback. Neither of them had ever farmed, and even when their father was alive, he hadn’t known much about fieldwork—otherwise, they wouldn’t have been deceived by the Wu family year after year. There was no harm in going to see the fields, but what would they actually learn?
Nevertheless, since his A-jie suggested it, he didn’t object. "Alright, we have nothing else to do anyway. Let’s go take a look."
Inside Blue Stone Alley, the Lu brothers rode slowly home, neither hurrying due to the earlier encounter.
After letting their horses amble for a while, Lu Duo suddenly remembered something, his brow furrowing slightly as he spoke hesitantly, "Did Wan Niangzi just say she’d been to our house? Was no one home to answer the door? How did the items end up in our hands?"
Judging by the siblings’ demeanor, if they hadn’t met on the road, they likely would have taken the items back home.
Lu Zheng listened, his expression darkening as if recalling something, and he snorted, "Who knows?"
As they spoke, they arrived at their courtyard gate. Just as they dismounted, Lu Duo’s wife, Shen Yuniang, came out to greet them upon hearing the horses, asking with some surprise, "Why are you back so early?"
Lu Duo tied his horse to the hitching post and headed home. "We just finished with the official fields at the camp, so we came back to fetch some seed grain before heading out to tend our own land."
Shen Yuniang noticed the travel-worn look on her husband's face and felt a pang of tenderness. Softly, she urged, "You've been working nonstop for days. Why not rest for half a day? The fields can wait until tomorrow."
Though warmed by her concern, Lu Duo shook his head with a smile. "It's nothing, I'm not tired. The weather's been good these past few days—we need to hurry and plow all the fields before the rain comes and causes trouble."
As they spoke, two dumpling-like twins came running out of the house and threw themselves into Lu Duo's arms, chirping in milky voices, "Father's back!"
After being lifted and weighed in their father's arms, the two turned to look at Lu Zheng, calling out sweetly, "Second Uncle!"
Lu Zheng watched his elder brother and sister-in-law's harmonious relationship and the adorable twins, his face expressionless though inwardly feeling a twinge of envy.
He offered a faint smile, glanced at the bamboo basket in his hand, and softened his voice. "There are pancakes here. Go wash your hands at the well before eating."
The twins' eyes lit up at once, and they cheered as they scampered off to draw water from the corner of the yard.
Only then did Shen Yuniang notice the basket in his hand and asked curiously, "Where did these pancakes come from?"
Lu Duo explained about encountering the Tang siblings on the road, then asked his wife, "Had they visited our home earlier?"
Shen Yuniang hesitated, pausing briefly before tilting her chin toward the backyard and whispering, "They did come about fifteen minutes ago… Mother went to answer the door. I don't know what was said, but she came back inside looking very upset."
Lu Duo was momentarily taken aback, unsure how to respond.
He had seen Tang Wan smiling cheerfully earlier and truly hadn't detected any displeasure.
Listening nearby, Lu Zheng's eyes flashed coldly as he curled his lip slightly. "Brother, since you rarely come home, stay and chat with sister-in-law. I'll go haul out the seed grain from the back—we need to leave soon."
With that, he stepped into the main room, casually setting the bamboo basket on the table before heading straight to the backyard.
When he emerged carrying the seed grain, he heard the children squabbling inside.
Pausing mid-step, he understood the situation with just one glance.
The twins had returned after washing their hands and were eating pancakes in the main room when Lu Ming happened upon them.
At the sight of the two younger ones eating happily, Lu Ming immediately tried to snatch the food, demanding fiercely, "What are you eating?"
The younger two were accustomed to being bullied by this uncle, and though their mother always urged tolerance, they had long simmered with resentment. This time was different—these pancakes weren't made by their grandmother but brought by Second Uncle.
Lan Jie gripped her pancake tightly, cheeks puffed with anger. "These were given to us by Second Uncle! You can't take them!"
Zhou Ge'er remained silent but firmly held back Lu Ming's chubby hand, his round eyes dark and blazing with fury.
Lu Ming sneered, "Second Brother just came back from camp—where would he get pancakes? These were clearly bought by my mother for me! If you ate my pancakes, spit them out!"
At ten years old, Lu Ming was round and plump, standing half a body taller than the six-year-old twins, yet this didn't stop him from fighting his niece and nephew for food.
Lu Zheng approached with a frosty expression. The twins, seeing him emerge as if they'd found their protector, immediately burst into loud wails despite their earlier fierceness. They clung to Lu Zheng's legs from both sides, crying pitifully, "Second Uncle! Little Uncle tried to steal our pancakes!"
Lu Ming, accustomed to throwing his weight around at home, was the only one who felt somewhat intimidated by his stern-faced second brother. Hearing this, he stood awkwardly and defended himself with forced bravado: "These pancakes were bought for me by my mother."
Lu Zheng corrected him coldly: "These pancakes were brought back by me."
Lu Ming froze for a moment, his eyes flickering as he tried to think of a response. Just then, he spotted Wang Yinhua entering from outside and ran over to her, murmuring softly, "Mother…"
Wang Yinhua glanced at the bamboo basket on the table, feeling the cloth cover looked somewhat familiar. "Where did this come from?"
Lu Duo had just gone inside to exchange a few affectionate words with his wife when he heard the children making a fuss outside. Coming out, he heard her question and replied, "It's from the Tang siblings at Elm Tree Alley. They came by earlier – why didn't you invite them in to sit, Mother?"
Wang Yinhua curled her lip. "That girl just had her engagement broken off. I don't dare invite her into our home. What if she latches onto our family? Who would I complain to then?"
Lu Duo frowned. "I thought that girl was poised and well-mannered, not that kind of person."
"Well-mannered? Then why did she take back the thank-you gifts she brought?" Wang Yinhua sneered, rummaging through the bamboo basket. "We saved her life, and this measly offering is all we get?"
Hearing this, Lu Zheng frowned but before he could speak, Wang Yinhua turned to him first: "Zheng Ge'er should stay at the military camp for now and not come home. That way if that family comes calling again, you won't get ensnared by their schemes."
Lu Zheng laughed inwardly – wasn't this the pot calling the kettle black?
He said coldly, "This is my business. None of your concern."
Without another glance at Wang Yinhua, he walked around her toward the backyard. In a few steps, he hoisted a bag of grain seeds over his shoulder and prepared to leave.
Wang Yinhua was left speechless, her face alternating between green and white. Her mouth opened and closed, but she ultimately didn't dare say more.
Lu Zheng wasn't like his brother – if provoked, he truly dared to turn hostile, and even his father's words might not restrain him.
She looked toward Lu Duo, hoping he would intervene, but unexpectedly Lu Duo's eyes also showed displeasure and he ignored her.
Returning inside, Lu Duo said a few words to Shen Yuniang, then patted the two little ones on their heads, whispering, "Be good and listen to your mother at home. Father will bring you some treats tonight."
The two children, now happily munching on sweet corn pancakes, had stopped crying and promised obediently one after another.
Thus, the two brothers who had rarely returned home didn't even sit down before leaving directly.
Lu Duo rode his horse to catch up with Lu Zheng, seeing his brother walking ahead with a cold expression. "Don't listen to her," he advised. "You should still come home to sleep. The nights are still chilly this season, and with busy days ahead, you won't rest well at the camp."
Lu Zheng merely snorted coldly. "Forget it. I don't sleep well at home either."
The Lu family compound wasn't small. Old Master Lu and Wang Shi occupied the main house, while Lu Duo originally lived in the east wing and Lu Zheng in the west wing. Lu Ming, being younger, should have stayed in the side room of the main house. But Wang Shi, ever calculating, had insisted on squeezing Lu Ming into Lu Zheng's room, claiming that since Lu Zheng usually stayed at the military camp, it was wasteful to leave the spacious west wing empty.
Now, every day when he returned home, seeing his formerly tidy room turned into a pigsty by Lu Ming, he didn't even want to enter.
However, sleeping in the barracks was certainly no better.
The men in the army were rough and crude. At night, they slept in large communal bunks, with some farting, some grinding their teeth, and others talking in their sleep—the noise never ceased all night, making it truly impossible to sleep well.
Lu Zheng had already made up his mind: he would seize every opportunity to save money, so he could eventually purchase a separate house and move out to live on his own.
This idea hadn’t come to him overnight. Ever since he married Wang Shi, his father’s favoritism had become utterly unreasonable, and he couldn’t stand staying in this household for even one more day.
Lu Duo knew of his plans but also understood that it wouldn’t be easy.
After the two brothers enlisted, half of their military pay had to be used to support the family. Their daily expenses for food and clothing were their own responsibility, leaving them with almost no savings. Lu Zheng could only make use of his off-duty time to go hunting in the mountains, occasionally earning a little extra money to stash away. But saving up enough to buy a house was not something that could be accomplished overnight.
Lu Zheng was stubborn, and there was no use in trying to persuade him, so Lu Duo decided to change the subject.
Lu Duo recalled the scene from earlier that day when the Tang siblings had brought gifts, and his expression turned somewhat subtle.
His younger brother had never been comfortable around women since childhood. Whenever he encountered a young lady, he would scowl and refuse to respond no matter how they tried to engage him. Lu Duo had initially worried that his brother would be rude, but to his surprise, the two had stood by the roadside and exchanged a few words.
Unable to resist, he probed, “Speaking of which, the Tang girl does seem quite nice—well-mannered and good-looking.”
For no apparent reason, Lu Zheng was reminded of what had happened underwater that day.
The tips of his ears grew warm, but his voice turned cold. “Why bring this up?”
“You’re at the right age now. It’s time to start thinking about marriage.”
“Marriage? And have my wife share a room with Lu Ming?”
Lu Duo was left speechless by the retort. After a long pause, he scolded, “What kind of talk is that?”
“The truth.”
Lu Zheng had thought it through clearly: he had no intention of getting married until he had saved enough to buy a house.
Since it wasn’t yet time to discuss marriage, what was the point of paying attention to young ladies?
Author’s Note:
Dear readers passing by, please add this to your collections! I’m begging you [please]!