YBTGX 08

Chapter 08

The Filial Son, Lu Lin

First, he elevated his Eldest Uncle, acknowledging his sense of righteousness for considering the family’s future. Then, he affirmed his mother, highlighting her painstaking efforts for the family’s stability to elicit sympathy. Finally, he threw out a fair proposal that no one could refuse. Even if his Eldest Uncle truly had malicious intentions, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly for fear of his reputation.

The entire process was conducted with dignity—neither humble nor overbearing—and based on sound logic.

It was only now that Steward Wang understood why Lu Lin had sent for the guarantor. To have devised such a strategy in such a short time, based only on the few words he had overheard in the main hall, was astounding. How could a child be this intelligent?

Steward Wang’s heart beat wildly and uncontrollably. A noble child from a poor family. Steward Wang chewed over these words repeatedly, feeling that he had truly picked up a priceless treasure this time. A handsome pageboy was something that pleased a master’s eyes. A clever pageboy could share his young master’s burdens. But a pageboy who was meticulously thoughtful and possessed such intellect at a young age was no longer just a mere assistant; he was an excellent companion who could serve as half a tutor to the young master.

Thinking of his own young master, who gave the entire Liu estate a headache, Steward Wang felt his temples throb. If his own young master could be half as sensible and easy to manage as this child, his master would wake up laughing even in his dreams. With this kind of disposition and eloquence, if he could accompany the young master, surely the influence would, if not entirely transform him, at least restrain some of his waywardness.

Five taels of silver? No, never mind five. Even ten or twenty taels would be a grand fortune to acquire such a pageboy.

…

Eldest Uncle’s face instantly turned the color of a pig’s liver. “Nonsense!” he barked. “Old Li works hard for village affairs every day; how would he have the leisure time to accompany me to the county?”

Eldest Uncle’s mind raced; he knew the final decision still rested with his father. He took a deep breath and ignored the kneeling Lu Lin. “Father! I know you feel for Second Brother and Lin-er. But this opportunity for lectures in the county is a once-in-a-lifetime event! If I miss this, I… I truly won’t have the confidence for the next county exam!”

He emphasized the words “won’t have the confidence” heavily, as if the entire hope of the Lu family rested on the shoulders of the eldest son who had been studying for nearly twenty years.

Just as the atmosphere in the room tightened once more, footsteps sounded at the courtyard gate.

“Grandfather, Old Li is here!”

The crisp voice of a child broke the stalemate. Following behind Lu Guan was an elderly man with a sturdy build and a dark, weathered complexion—it was Old Li, the guarantor from earlier.

As soon as Old Li stepped inside, he sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere, and his brows knit slightly. Eldest Uncle’s face instantly turned darker than the bottom of a pot. He stared fiercely at Lu Guan, scaring the boy half to death. Lu Guan huddled by the doorway, looking aggrieved. Didn’t you tell me to go call someone? Are we still having extra eggs tonight or not?

Lu Lin acted as if he didn’t see his Eldest Uncle’s ugly expression. He scrambled up from the floor, trotted over to Old Li, and kowtowed respectfully again.

“Grandpa Li.”

He repeated the logically clear argument he had just made in front of everyone. “My mother is a simple woman who only thinks of the family’s daily needs. She is worried there won’t be money to treat my father’s leg, which is why she had this dispute with Eldest Uncle. Eldest Uncle, on the other hand, is working toward the great matter of bringing honor to our Lu family. Neither of them is wrong. That is why I wanted to ask you, Grandpa Li, to be the fair witness. We, the whole family, will rest easy if the silver is in your keeping.”

This statement appeared to be pushing the troublesome task of safekeeping the silver onto Old Li, but in reality, it was handing him the opportunity to preside over justice and enhance his prestige before everyone’s eyes. Old Li was no fool; having lived in the village for half a lifetime, he understood human relationships better than anyone. How could he not know this was a good thing?

“Good!” Old Li exclaimed. “Lin-wa’s words make perfect sense! I will take charge of this matter!”

Upon hearing this, Eldest Uncle’s knees turned to jelly, and he nearly lost his footing. “Father!” He could only cast his final hope toward Old Man Lu, who remained silent.

Old Man Lu puffed on his pipe, exhaling a long, cloudy stream of smoke. He glanced at his flustered eldest son, then at his grandson, who remained calm and composed on the floor. Finally, he tapped the pipe bowl heavily against the leg of the table with a dull thud.

It was the final word. “We shall follow Lin-er’s plan.”

Old Li couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh inwardly. He had previously thought Lu Lin’s words were coached in advance. He never expected that such a foolproof plan, one that offended neither party, would come from the mouth of a six-year-old child.

What a pity. Truly a pity. The Lu family was trading a diamond for a pebble; for a mere five taels of silver, they were selling off a grandson this brilliant.

…

Steward Wang, watching from the sidelines, now basically understood Lu Lin’s intent. He couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly. This was more than just early maturity—the legendary prodigies in books probably amounted to no more than this. He had even accounted for Old Li’s desire to protect his reputation, ensuring he would accept this “hot potato.” Could such a clever heart truly be a natural-born scholar?

Before Steward Wang’s astonishment could subside, he witnessed a scene that shook him even more.

Lu Lin turned around, his knees buckling as he knelt once again before Li Shi and Lu Hou. He pressed his small body against the ground and kowtowed respectfully to his father, Lu Hou, who sat with his broken leg.

“Father, your child is unfilial. I cannot serve you medicine or food by your sickbed, but instead have caused you such worry over my own departure, and allowed you to suffer the name of a father who sold his son. This is my crime.”

When these words were spoken, the entire room fell into silence. Lu Hou, who had been silent and forbearing, looking as if he had lost his soul, felt his body tremble violently, and tears began to stream down his face. He wanted to reach out to lift his son up, but the sharp pain in his broken leg made it impossible; he could only emit a sob, his calloused hands gripping the wooden stool beneath him tightly. Li Shi was equally stunned, her tears still hanging on her cheeks, forgotten.

Lu Lin then shifted his small body and knelt squarely before Li Shi. “Mother, I shall work diligently and study hard at the Liu house. I will not dare to be the least bit lazy. Not for the sake of fame or wealth, but to acquire the skills to bring you and Father to my side as soon as possible, to make up for the pain of our separation today. Please take care of yourself, Mother, and do not cry or grieve for me anymore. Otherwise, I will be unable to eat or sleep peacefully while at the Liu estate.”

Having said this, he pressed his tiny forehead firmly against the cold, muddy ground—a complete, full-body prostration.

Lying there on the ground, Lu Lin felt a sense of relief, as if a burden had been lifted; the memories of his predecessor merged completely with his own, leaving no distinction. This kowtow was not an act of performance; it was a genuine expression of gratitude for the grace of his parents.

Lu Lin remained prostrate on the ground, and this act shattered the final defensive line in Li Shi’s heart. She could no longer hold back; she let out a heart-rending cry, lunging forward to pull her son tightly into her arms.

“My child!” It was not just the sorrow of separation; she was struck to the core by her son’s filial piety.

Beside them, Old Man Lu’s pipe fell to the ground with a clatter, yet he did not notice. He simply stared blankly at the mother and son weeping in each other’s arms, his clouded, aged eyes revealing, for the first time, a sense of remorse.

Old Li, who had been watching, gasped and shook his head repeatedly. “A filial son, truly a filial son!”

“How much accumulated virtue did the Lu family’s ancestors have to produce such a filial and wise descendant?”

“Indeed, to be so sensible and so filial at such a young age—he will surely achieve greatness in the future!”

The neighbors in the courtyard could no longer remain silent, one after another breaking into praise. The exclamations of “filial son” and “truly extraordinary” echoed through the room.

Steward Wang took a deep breath and straightened his posture against the doorframe. He looked at Lu Lin, who was held tightly in his mother’s arms, with a solemn expression.