TGCFNM -Chapter 70 Talking About Those Past Events

After leaving the Lu residence, Chu Ling politely declined Lu Shiming’s offer to escort her, telling him only to focus on his studies before taking her leave.

Yang Huaishan followed behind, his ears red with embarrassment, and whispered, “Master, we’ve taken so much tea from others… isn’t this improper?”

Chu Ling looked surprised. “Didn’t you hear? This is a gift from the matriarch to her grandson’s friend—just some tea leaves.”

Yang Huaishan felt a bit dry in the mouth. “But Master, this tea must be expensive.”

“Did anyone say it was expensive?” Chu Ling turned and smiled, then said, “The worth of a gift isn’t in its price, but in its necessity. Since it’s given to you, just accept it properly. Now, you’re coming with me to a place.”

“A place?” Yang Huaishan asked quickly.

“A teahouse,” Chu Ling replied. Without much thought, she grabbed someone nearby to ask for the liveliest teahouse and led Yang Huaishan there. At the entrance, Chu Ling sized him up.

“M-Master, what’s wrong?” Yang Huaishan asked nervously.

“I didn’t bring any money with me,” Chu Ling said innocently, spreading her hands.

Yang Huaishan stammered, “…Then naturally, I should treat you.”

Satisfied, Chu Ling entered the teahouse and immediately called over a waiter. After ordering a pot of hot tea and two plates of snacks, she asked for a storyteller. “I want to hear about what happened to the Lu family back then.”

“Young master, that was many years ago. Nowadays, most patrons ask for tales of Lu Gao, who killed his son for his wife. Though it seems like a story of deep love, some say he may have been pursuing another altogether,” the storyteller said.

“Someone has taken a fancy to Lu Gao?” Chu Ling asked, curious, while slipping over two copper coins.

The waiter accepted them discreetly and quickly said, “They say it’s Madam Zhao’s sister. She lost her husband six months ago, and now lives alone at the Zhao residence.”

Chu Ling ran through the information in her mind and understood it clearly.

“One tael of silver. Tell me about the Lu family back then. If others don’t want to listen, bring them upstairs so you can tell me alone,” Chu Ling said with a smile, then gestured for Yang Huaishan to pay.

Yang Huaishan reluctantly handed over the silver.

The waiter accepted it with a cheerful smile. “When young master gives money, someone will naturally be willing to tell the story.”

After the people left, Yang Huaishan looked almost like he was about to cry. “Master, a storyteller… why does it take a whole tael of silver?”

“I’m afraid he might not tell it completely. Besides, it’s your treat,” Chu Ling said naturally, pouring herself a cup of hot tea and then one for Yang Huaishan. “Drink tea, drink tea, and listen to the story.”

Downstairs, the storyteller pocketed the silver, then struck the wooden clapper to begin:

“Clap!

“Now, the story most patrons want to hear lately is that of Lu Gao, who killed his son for his wife. It caused quite an uproar—a talented young man sentenced to death three days later. But in my opinion, this matter really must be told starting twelve years ago!”

“Twelve years ago?”

“What happened?”

The storyteller chuckled, “Everyone, the Lu family and the Lu family had a marriage alliance, and their union back then was a tale of admiration. The Lu family’s matriarch was truly kind-hearted and gave her daughter-in-law a generous dowry. The reason the Lu family has become so wealthy today all hinges on this Madam Lu Xu of the Lu family!”

“That’s true.”

“Yes indeed.”

The storyteller sighed and wiped his tears skyward. “Back when Madam Lu Xu was still a Lu Xu of the Lu family, life was very happy. The Lu family had only one son, named Lu Huai. Lu Huai wasn’t good at studying from a young age, but he was a master at calculating and managing finances. After a few years of study, he went to learn commerce under his uncle.”

“This young Lu Huai, though just a boy, understood the ways of business very well. Later, when he started his own ventures, within just a few years he had amassed considerable wealth, opening tea shops, cloth shops, inns, and restaurants. Any avenue of trade he could seize, he did. Yet despite this, all the wealthy young ladies of the time turned him down, and he ended up marrying the second daughter of a merchant family, Lu Xu.”

“Madam Lu was furious, of course, but her son’s love for her was irresistible. He promised Lu Xu that he would never take a concubine, so she was brought into the family. The following year, they had a son, Lu Shiming, and the matriarch reconciled with her daughter-in-law, becoming as close as mother and daughter.”

The storyteller struck his wooden clapper again and let out a deep sigh.

“But happiness didn’t last long. When Lu Shiming was three, Lu Huai went out on a business trip. At Xiaolin Slope, he was ambushed by bandits. Their carts full of porcelain, cloth, gold, silver, and jewels were all stolen. Lu Huai pleaded, ‘Take everything, just spare my life.’ The bandits laughed heartlessly, their eyes glinting with malice, and said, ‘Someone has already paid for your life, so it cannot be spared.’ And with that, they killed Lu Huai.”

“With Lu Huai gone, the pillar of the Lu family was lost. As soon as the servants dressed him in his burial clothes, the relatives—wolves in sheep’s clothing—pretended to mourn. In truth, they claimed that the orphaned mother couldn’t protect the estate and demanded to take over. And once they did, they gradually made it their own.”

“The matriarch wept, lamenting her fate. Lu Xu wept, holding her child. But no one dared intervene. The Lu family had many bold relatives, who would dare challenge them?”

“But at that moment—”

The storyteller struck the clapper again. “The Lu family got help from the Lu family! Lu Gao, a scholar, went straight to the county office to file a report. He brought Magistrate Zhao and a group of officers to the Lu residence. The Lu relatives were so terrified that they scurried away with their tails between their legs.”

“From that point on, Lu Gao stayed to help, even carrying the coffin and escorting the funeral. The matriarch saw this and was pleased, so she allowed Lu Xu to stop mourning after just six months. She married her off properly, even accompanying her with several shops as dowry.”

“The matriarch’s kindness was sincere. She feared that her absence would make her daughter-in-law uncomfortable. She didn’t even attend the wedding, and the Lu family hardly visited afterward. On holidays, they pretended not to know her.”

“Alas… Lu Xu had been in the Lu family for twelve years, diligently managing everything. Lu Gao often called his wife a treasure in his palm. Yet happiness was short-lived. That year, she finally gave birth to a child—a son—but then passed away. Tragic, unfortunate, and heartbreaking…”

The teahouse patrons couldn’t help but sigh, wiping their eyes.

The storyteller also dabbed at his tears. Lu Xu had suffered greatly.

“When Lu Gao discovered that it was his own son who had killed her, he immediately captured the culprit and handed him over to the authorities. Since Lu Gao and Magistrate Zhao were old classmates, the trial proceeded swiftly, and the death penalty was quickly issued,” said the storyteller.

At this, a guest spoke up: “I remember that Magistrate Zhao, Lu Gao, and Lu Huai were classmates, growing up together.”

“Indeed. But at first, the three of them didn’t get along,” an elder laughed. “Young boys together will always fight. Every time, someone had to pull them apart. Later, Lu Huai went into business and stopped studying. Zhao went to the capital to stay with relatives. Lu Gao remained in Wanzhou, took the civil service exams several times, and became a teacher.”

“It’s truly heartbreaking,” the storyteller sighed.

“I think you forgot something,” someone suddenly shouted. “Lu Xu and Lu Gao knew each other since childhood and were originally meant to marry. Then Lu Huai intervened, broke them apart, and forcibly married Lu Xu himself.”