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After returning from town, Zheng Qiang was quietly approached by the young man. “Brother Zheng, I really like this little dog. Could you give it to me?”
Lu Man already considered the young man as her real brother, and seeing him shamelessly ask for something made her blush. She quickly turned her head away, avoiding looking at him.
Zheng Qiang chuckled, “If Jiang Little Brother likes it, it’s yours. Once this little dog goes to your home, it will be living the good life.”
Delighted by Zheng Qiang’s generosity, Lu Man happily embraced the little yellow dog, saying, “That’s great! From now on, you’ll be my big brother’s dog.”
In the evening, Lu Man slept in Zheng’s mother’s bed while Zheng’s mother slept on a makeshift bed on the floor. The young man slept in Zheng Qiang’s bed, with Zheng Qiang also on a makeshift bed.
The next day after lunch, Zheng Qiang sent the mother dog off to guard her pups and rented a cart. Concerned for the safety of the young man and Lu Man due to their small size, he insisted on accompanying them all the way to the capital city.
During the journey, they learned that the village was called Xibeipo Village, located in Shaping County on the outskirts of the capital.
As dusk approached, the cart finally arrived at the west gate of the capital city.
The young man and Lu Man, with the little dog in her arms, alighted from the cart and paid the driver a silver coin. The young man bowed to Zheng Qiang, saying, “Brother Zheng, I know your address, and I will definitely come to thank you in the future. There are some issues at home, so we won’t be inviting you as a guest today.”
Zheng Qiang replied with a smile, “No need for thanks. If Jiang Little Brother and Jiang Little Sister want to relax in the countryside, feel free to come and visit our home. The remaining silver coins can be used to pay off debts and buy new bedding, so your stay will be comfortable.”
They heard from Zheng’s mother’s chatter that Zheng Qiang’s father was also a hunter who was attacked by a wild boar during a hunting trip and passed away despite borrowing a lot of money for treatment. Even now, the family’s debts hadn’t been cleared, and despite being eighteen, Zheng Qiang hadn’t married.
The young man whispered to Zheng Qiang, “That jade pendant is worth at least a hundred silver coins. If you sell it, you can marry a new bride next year.”
Zheng Qiang blushed and chuckled sheepishly.
Upon entering the city, the young man didn’t rush home but instead found a noodle shop. After eating, they hired a donkey cart to send Lu Man back home.
As soon as Lu Man got on the cart, she started crying. She said, “Brother Jiang, I will miss you so much. Will we see each other again?”
The young man smiled, took out a small jade pendant from his waist, and said, “You’ve been my sister for two days, and I will remember you. If you ever want to see me or if someone at home troubles you, take this jade pendant to Jiang family in the Eastern Alley and find the person named Liu Xin. However, when you get home, don’t mention meeting your big brother, say you met a nun collecting firewood and stayed at the temple for two nights.”
…
Upon returning home, Little Lu Man’s arrival surprised old lady Lu, the eldest son, the eldest daughter-in-law, and Mrs. Xiao Chen, who was so astonished her mouth hung open.
Lu Fangming chuckled, “It’s good you’re back. We searched for you for two days and nights, worrying sick. Why didn’t you bring the nun who saved you back so we could thank her?”
Little Lu Man repeated the story taught by her brother Jiang, “I did invite her, but the nun said that as a practitioner, compassion and kindness guide her actions. Helping others is a virtuous act, not seeking anything in return. She escorted me to the alley entrance and then left.”
Old lady Lu added, “Thank goodness we were discreet in our search to avoid tarnishing your reputation. We kept it quiet, so no one knew you were away for two days and nights. It’s not good for a young lady to be missing for so long. You mustn’t speak of this to anyone, revealing it could not only harm yourself but also your sisters. Instruct the household and the servants to keep this matter confidential.”
Later, Mrs. Xiao Chen secretly frightened Little Lu Man, warning her not to speak of it, even to Mama Wang. If she found out she had talked about it, thus affecting the marriage prospects of the other sisters, she would be married off to a cripple.
Frightened, Little Lu Man nodded repeatedly, and even when Mama Wang returned half a month later, she dared not speak of it. The same was true for Lu Ying, who had been repeatedly cautioned, and the young maids dared not speak of it either.
However, two days after Little Lu Man returned home, the small jade pendant was nowhere to be found. Heartbroken, she felt guilty towards her brother Jiang. Three months later, she sneaked out from the back door again, taking a donkey cart to Eastern Alley. The long alley only had two mansions with tall courtyard walls and grand gates, intimidating her. She didn’t dare approach, observing from afar the inscriptions on the gatehouses reading “Marquis Ping’s Mansion” and “Princess Changting’s Mansion”, but there was no sign of Jiang Mansion.
Why did her big brother lie to her? After returning home, she was sad for a long time.
…
Lu Man thought that the jade pendant was likely stolen by the greedy Mrs. Xiao Chen. Poor girl, she would never know that she didn’t get loss but it was planned, and her brother Jiang did not deceive her.
Furthermore, the Lu family kept the incident of her disappearance a secret, fearing that the original Lu Man might tell Mama Wang. Surely, there was something to fear.
Undoubtedly, the mastermind behind the scheme was likely Mrs. Xiao Chen. Lu Yuan’s nursemaid must have followed her instructions, allowing Lu Yuan to get off at the foot of the mountain. The water Little Lu Man drank was probably tainted, and someone had arranged for a rabbit to distract her, causing her to fall asleep, only to be discreetly taken away to the mountains…
It’s unclear whether other members of the Lu family were involved. Even if they weren’t directly involved, there would be suspicions afterward, explaining why they didn’t actively search for her. That family was not only cold-hearted but also deeply malicious. If the original Lu Man had died or gone missing, one could only imagine how they would handle the aftermath…
“Third Young Madam, it’s time to get up, and the water has gone cold.” Liu Ya called from outside.
Lu Man’s thoughts were interrupted by Liu Ya’s voice. She responded but didn’t get up.
Fate works in mysterious ways. The young man who saved Little Lu Man turned out to be Jiang Zhanwei. Six years later, they met again. Was this fate?
Reflecting on the past, Lu Man remembered the handsome, clean-cut young man with a calm gaze. Even when he smiled, there was a lingering sadness in his eyes that evoked both pain and peace.
Undeniably, he was a kind and good child back then. He helped a stranger like Little Lu Man and took care of her. Grateful to Zheng Qiang and his mother, he generously gave them all he had. He was not only intelligent and wise but also kind-hearted.
Time is a butcher’s knife. After six years, the once beautiful and clean young man had grown into a towering, stern young man, transforming from a kind and warm big brother into a gloomy and fierce man. Thinking about their wedding night, Lu Man’s body reacted, the warmth that had been flowing dissipating instantly, replaced by tension and pain, starting from the bottom and rising…