Lu Shuo put his head down on the table, buried his face in his arms, and his shoulders trembled slightly.
After a while, he looked up, sniffled, straightened, and opened the bundle he had carried all the way from home.
There was nothing valuable in it: a wooden dog his father had carved for him, a motley copper hairpin his mother had left behind, a red cloth skirt his mother had worn when she married, a patched vest his mother had mended for him, and a pair of new shoes his mother had sewn for his father—for when he finished his corvée and came home.
There were many things he hated to leave behind: farm tools, tables, stools, boxes. But after his mother died, his aunt and uncle had taken them. And since he depended on them for food, he could only watch silently as his father's tools swung in his uncle's hands, the furniture his mother had commissioned was crowded by his cousins, and the boxes that once held his family's clothes were now stuffed with his uncle's family's belongings.
His parents' clothes, of course, were on the mountain with their graves.
So when his aunt and uncle told him to go up the mountain to chop wood, he never complained—it gave him time alone at the graveside.
That day, he came down with firewood on his back and saw the village head and several unfamiliar men in military attire standing at the door. He was taken aback.
But his aunt, seeing him, broke into the brightest smile she'd ever shown. She hurried over, helping him unload the firewood. "You child, why so late! The honored guest has been waiting for you!"
His uncle rubbed his brownish-yellow palms and chuckled at the leading man. "Honored sir, this is my nephew, Lu Shuo. Ever since his parents passed, I've been taking care of him."
Only that day did Lu Shuo learn that his father hadn't simply died in battle—he had died protecting his commander.
Duke Xuan wanted to take him to the capital. His uncle and aunt dared not refuse, bowing and scraping to send him off. But when the Duke told Lu Shuo to pack, they grew nervous, their eyes fixed on his movements, as if afraid he would take the big items too.
Lu Shuo glanced at the hundred-tael banknote clenched tight in his uncle's hand, and packed his bundle in silence.
Duke Xuan asked, "Is that all?"
Lu Shuo nodded. "That's all."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his uncle and aunt breathe a sigh of relief.
Lu Shuo led the Duke up the mountain to see his parents' graves. The Duke solemnly offered incense.
Looking up, Lu Shuo asked, "Can I come back someday? I need to sweep their graves."
Duke Xuan said, "When you grow up, of course. Then you can return in glory and bring honor to your parents."
Then he glanced at the village head, who was standing nearby. "Village Head, you can bear witness. The Lus have agreed to repair Lu Shuo's parents' graves, so he won't have trouble finding them when he returns to pay respects. Lu Zhong died for the country—he was a man of righteousness. The village must not neglect him."
The village head hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, of course, sir. I will make sure they hire someone immediately to rebuild the graves."
Only then did Duke Xuan nod.
...
Lu Shuo stood up, walked around the room, found a cabinet, and carefully stored away the items from his bundle. He rubbed his eyes and closed the cabinet door just as Tianqing knocked. "Young master, the hot water is ready. May we come in?"
Lu Shuo took a deep breath, composed himself, and said, "Come in."
Tianqing and Laishou carried an empty bathtub inside, followed by two servants from the boiler room carrying hot water.
A screen separated a space. The servants poured the hot water into the tub. Tianqing asked, "All the bathing supplies are ready. Do you need assistance?"
Lu Shuo quickly waved his hand. "No, no. I can wash myself."
Tianqing: "Then we'll withdraw. Call if you need anything."
The group filed out, closing the door.
Lu Shuo went behind the screen, faced the large tub of steaming water, and wiped his face.
He undressed, stepped into the water, and submerged himself.
...
Since he had bathed yesterday and wasn't dirty, and knowing others were waiting for him to finish so they could clean up, Lu Shuo only soaked briefly, scrubbed himself, and got out.
He put on another set of hemp clothes, opened the door, looked left and right, and didn't see Tianqing or Laishou. Guessing they might be in the side room, he was about to tell them he was done when their voices drifted out faintly from the open windows.
"Brother Tianqing, why did they call you over earlier?"
"The madam had someone buy a few ready-made clothes from a shop based on Young Master Lu's measurements, just for temporary wear. I'll bring them in after he finishes bathing."
"Ah, what luck. Becoming the master's adopted son just like that. His father's life was worth the trade."
"That's because his father was clever. Dying in battle only gets you a small pension, but making the master owe him a favor—otherwise, he'd spend his whole life farming in the countryside and never even see the capital's gates."
"True. But he's not the master's real son. If he makes a mistake, will the master keep owing him that favor forever? Brother Tianqing, what do you think of this Lu Shuo? Does he have any future?"
"Hard to say."
"His accent is so strange. He'll barely be able to speak properly at the Academy; the teachers will definitely scold him."
"Forget the accent—he can't even recognize many characters. Probably even less than you."
"Huh? How can he enter the Academy then?"
"If the master and madam want to squeeze him in, they have ways."
"Brother Tianqing, it's really too bad. Imagine being assigned to look after Young Master Lu. You used to serve in the eldest young master's courtyard. He should graduate and get an official post this year or next, right? If you could stay with him, you'd be set for life," said Laishou. "Not like me. I'm just a handyman; it's the same anywhere. But you're different. You served the eldest young master for years, and now you're transferred to Lu—all that work wasted."
"The eldest young master has plenty of people around. He doesn't need me. It's also my fault for not being capable enough to earn his regard. When the madam wanted to transfer me, he had no objections." Tianqing sighed. "Oh well, what can I do? I'll console myself that the madam must think well of me, or she wouldn't have entrusted me with Young Master Lu."
Laishou: "Ah, we servants' futures are tied to our masters'. If the master doesn't do well, we suffer too."
"Keep your voice down. Don't let anyone hear. Young Master Lu should call for me soon."
"Will he wash that fast? Country folk hate wasting firewood for hot water. Now that he's in the mansion, shouldn't he enjoy a good soak?"
"Who knows his habits? We'll observe him these next few days."
Lu Shuo stood under the eaves. Fine rain drifted onto his face with the wind, carrying a chilling coolness.
He turned quietly and went back inside his room.