The grand entrance of the Lu Family Mansion was wide open, with two mule carts led by drivers directly entering through the gate, circling past the shadow wall, and pulling up in the open courtyard in front of the Lu household.
Shuan Da’s wife hurried to the front of the mule cart, took down the stool hanging from the shaft, and placed it beside the cart, bowing as she said, "Third Young Master, Fifth Miss, please alight from the cart."
Shortly after, the curtain of the mule cart was lifted from the inside, and a young servant stepped out first, followed by a young man in his early twenties.
The young man had an above-average appearance, a medium build, dressed in a moon-white robe, with a cluster of ink bamboo embroidered on both the left shoulder and the hem, giving him a somewhat elegantly noble demeanor.
This person was none other than Zou Yuzhen, the third son of County Magistrate Zou.
After Zou Yuzhen got off the cart, he stepped aside and said to the inside of the cart, "Master Qi, Yuanfei’s maternal grandfather’s home is here, please get off."
Yuanfei was Zou Yuzhen’s courtesy name.
In the midst of speaking, another person stepped out from the cart, a man about thirty years old, with a clean-shaven face, handsome features, and dressed in an ink-colored robe. He looked very calm and composed.
Master Qi took in the sight of the Lu Mansion and nodded, "This residence is indeed spacious, its grounds comparable to the mansions of wealthy families in Prefecture City."
Zou Yuzhen chuckled, "It’s just a small estate in the countryside, hardly worth mentioning."
"Fifth Miss, please be careful, watch your step," said Hua’er, Zou Yuwan’s maid, assisting Zou Yuwan as she descended from another mule cart.
Zou Yuwan was fuming inside, clueless as to what her Third Brother was thinking, insisting on coming to this wretched countryside and dragging her along as well.
But she had always been good at putting on a front; even though she was seething inside, her face still wore a gentle smile. Grasping Hua’er’s hand, she elegantly stepped off the mule cart, saying, "Hua’er, your mistress is not made of porcelain, alighting from the cart requires no such caution."
After Zou Yuwan stepped down from the cart, just as she touched the ground, Old Man Lu rushed over with Shuan Da in tow, trembling with excitement at the sight of them, "Brother Zhen’er, Sister Wan, is it really you? How come you are here?"
Zou Yuwan looked at Old Man Lu and saw that although he was wearing a new cotton robe, it was grey and crumpled, making her inwardly disdainful. Country bumpkins would always be country bumpkins, no matter how fine their clothes, lacking any semblance of elegance.
"Grandfather, we heard you were ill and so worried we lost our appetites, so we’ve come to see you," Zou Yuwan concealed her contempt as she quickly stepped forward to greet Old Man Lu, taking his hand, her voice filled with concern, "How is your health? Any better?"
Her voice choked up, "Looking at you, you seem much more haggard than before, it breaks your granddaughter’s heart."
Old Man Lu had never experienced such attention from Zou Yuwan. Previously, he had thought she despised the countryside, despised the Lu Family, scorned the family for not being an official one, lowering her status. Little did he expect that Sister Wan would care so much about her grandfather.
Old Man Lu thought too much; Zou Yuwan’s concern for him stemmed not only from her concern for her own reputation but also because of Master Qi.
Her Third Brother had said that this Master Qi was one of the Qi Family of Prefecture City, not only wealthy but also had a brother serving as an official in the Capital.
A man from a Prefecture City family, with a brother who was an official in the Capital, such an excellent family was not to be missed.
She had recently come of age, but due to the Lu Family’s affairs, her coming-of-age ceremony had been miserably humble, attended only by second-tier families from the county. The reason was that Mrs. Zou, the old lady, made a statement blocking the officials and wealthy families of the county, preventing their ladies from coming.
And her father had agreed to it.
Furious, she ran to her concubine mother to complain, but her mother advised her to endure for now. Once her father’s anger towards the Lu Family subsided, her mother would talk to him about considering suitors for her.
What are you looking at?
There are no decent families in the county town; if I, Zou Yuwan, am to marry, I must marry a son of an official family from the Prefecture.
Zou Yuwan wishes to marry into the Qi Family, which is why she agreed to follow her Third Brother to the countryside.
What she’s set her sights on is not Master Qi, but his nephews—the real noble sons of official families.
Old Master Lu is unaware of Zou Yuwan’s thoughts. Seeing her so concerned about him, he’s thrilled: "I’m quite well, Grandpa’s health has indeed improved significantly since some time ago."
Zou Yuwan said: "That’s good to hear. My Third Brother, concubine mother, and I have all been worried about you."
Zou Yuzhen came over with Master Qi. Taking hold of Old Master Lu’s other arm, he smiled and said: "Grandpa, this is Master Qi from the Qi Family of Prefecture City."
People from Prefecture City.
Old Master Lu’s eyes brightened. Addressing Master Qi, he said: "Sir, you have traveled from afar. If there is anything you’d like to eat, just command the servants, and they will surely procure it for you."
Master Qi replied with a smile: "I don’t have any particular cravings. I just enjoy the countryside scenery, so I came for a visit."
Zou Yuwan was livid with anger. What was Old Man Lu thinking? Did he think Master Qi was like those country bumpkins who have hardly eaten a few decent meals of meat? Mentioning food as soon as he arrived, what is there to eat? In this shabby countryside, what delicacies could there be?
Zou Yuzhen’s eyebrows slightly knitted, then quickly relaxed as he said to Old Master Lu: "Grandpa, the day is getting late. Let’s have the servants arrange a guest room for Master Qi."
"That’s right, arrange the accommodation first." Old Master Lu instructed Shuan Da: "Hurry, go tidy up the front courtyard’s guest room for Master Qi to rest."
"Right away." Shuan Da hurried to arrange people to clean the guest room.
It took over a quarter of an hour to get Master Qi’s accommodations in order.
Weary from the journey, Master Qi quickly settled down to rest.
Zou Yuzhen then took Zou Yuwan to see Lu Laosan.
Lu Laosan was overjoyed to see them, crying out excitedly: "Nephew~ help~ save~"
Lu Laosan wanted Zou Yuzhen to save him and also hoped he would help eliminate the Zhou, Gu, and Luotian families, but Zou Yuzhen came to Da Feng Village with a different purpose. His visit to Lu Laosan was just for show—paying no mind to whatever Lu Laosan said. After the visit, he told Lu Laosan to focus on recovering and left with Zou Yuwan.
Once the servants had left, Zou Yuwan couldn’t help but ask Zou Yuzhen: "Third Brother, why bother with the Lu Family? Haven’t they caused us enough trouble already? If it weren’t for these fools from the Lu Family, would we siblings be implicated? My coming-of-age ceremony was even ruined because of them."
Zou Yuwan’s words became increasingly aggrieved, nearly bringing her to tears.
Zou Yuzhen also disliked the endless trouble with the Lu Family; however, "Never mind them. Remember what I told you on our way here. Tomorrow, at Gu’s Workshop, you need to be clever and forge good relationships with the girls from the Gu Family."
He instructed further: "Gu Jinli is cunning and doesn’t easily trust strangers. Get close to Gu Yumei; she’s a fool and easily trusts people."
Zou Yuzhen had nurtured some people under his command. After the Lu Family incident, he had them investigate the people from the Zhou, Gu, and Luotian families, understanding who among them was difficult to deal with and who was easier to target.