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Chapter 75: Trouble Next Door

Lin’s mother and daughter gossiped for a while. Later, Concubine Qian came over, said a few words, and then left.

Wen Ruyu and Concubine Qian didn’t live together. After the household was rearranged, Wen Ruyu arranged for Concubine Qian to live in the third courtyard.

That meant she now lived quite close to Lu Ke and his household.

Although Concubine Qian wasn’t a formal mother-in-law, she was Lu Ke’s birth mother, so she genuinely liked Lin Xiaoyin.

But she also knew she didn’t share much in common with Lin Xiaoyin, so she only occasionally visited to show care and never dared to act like a proper mother-in-law.

At noon, Wen Ruyu kept Madam Cao for lunch, and Madam Cao didn’t decline—after all, she should meet her in-laws properly before leaving.

During lunch, the Lu family all ate together in the waterside pavilion.

The Lu and Lin families now held similar status. Additionally, Wen Ruyu had clever business ideas and didn’t skimp on food and drink.

In fact, the Lu family’s meals might’ve been even better than the Lin family’s.

Among in-laws, daughters-in-law usually stood by the elders to serve them food, as a display of filial piety.

But Wen Ruyu didn’t like this kind of formality. So, in the Lu household, the daughters-in-law sat at the table and started eating only after Wen Ruyu took her first bite.

When they wanted to show filial respect, a simple gesture of placing some food into Wen Ruyu’s bowl would suffice.

Lin Xiaoyin, being newlywed, adapted quickly. After Wen Ruyu told her twice, she began eating normally.

Zhao Shu, however, took much longer to change and still couldn’t shake the habit of standing to serve food to Wen Ruyu.

Madam Cao watched this dynamic at the table and was quietly delighted.

It seemed marrying her daughter into the Lu family had been a wise decision.

With such a mother-in-law, her daughter would have no worries for half her life.

As for managing the household—it might be tiring, but it was worth it.

After all, when a daughter marries, is it better to have real authority or be kept like a bird in a golden cage? Anyone could see which was better.

Lin Xiaoyin may be beautiful, but beauty fades. Who could guarantee eternal youth?

Besides, Lu Ke had official rank and prestige—once he stepped outside, he would be surrounded by pretty faces.

Even before marriage, there were already people eyeing the position of his concubine.

A woman must not pin her future on pleasing a man. Even if a man is dependable, it’s best to rely on yourself.

It may be exhausting, but at least if her daughter were ever gone, the Lu family would have a hard time managing.

After the meal, Wen Ruyu chatted with her in-law for a while inside the house, with both daughters-in-law present.

As for Lin Xiaoyin’s tasks, Wen Ruyu told her to put them on hold. A short delay wouldn’t matter.

If something urgent came up, someone from outside would report it.

During the chat, Madam Cao brought up Lu Bainian’s enlistment.

“The court is currently recruiting soldiers only in Jingzhou and Yinchuan. If he goes to Jingzhou, we happen to know someone there—we might be able to send a letter to help Bainen.”

Wen Ruyu, upon hearing this, was quick to accept.

“I don’t expect him to receive special treatment in the army. If he can just stay out of trouble with his temper, that’s good enough. If you’re willing to help, that’s truly Bainen’s good fortune.”

“Don’t mention it.” Madam Cao was happy that Wen Ruyu accepted her offer.

Madam Cao stayed at the Lu household that whole afternoon but didn’t stay for dinner. She returned to the Lin home that evening.

During dinner, she told Magistrate Lin about Lu Bainian’s enlistment.

“I already agreed on their behalf—you need to write a recommendation letter. You can’t refuse.”

Magistrate Lin didn’t think it was a big deal. If you have connections, you should use them.

The Lin and Lu families had always maintained good relations. Helping with a letter wasn’t a problem.

Still, he was surprised—Lu Bainian, a notorious playboy even he had heard of, now wanted to join the army?

“All the sons in that Lu family really are something else. That Lu Bainian is hard to figure out.”

Lin Qiaofeng nearly spit out his food laughing.

Thinking about how one of the Lu sons went to the countryside for a courtesan, and another almost caused a lawsuit over a minor official—it was hilarious.

Seeing his son laugh, Magistrate Lin frowned. “What are you laughing at? Are you any better than him?”

Lin Qiaofeng stopped laughing. He chewed his food, suddenly finding it less appetizing.

Then came more scolding: “You’ve taken the exam so many times and still haven’t even passed the scholar level. How do you have the face to laugh at others? Their youngest son, Jinnian, is younger than you and already a licentiate. How long do you plan to stay stuck?

If I were you, I’d be ashamed! And you dare laugh at others? At least they excel in martial arts if not literature. What about you? Useless in both!”

Madam Cao listened quietly, not daring to defend her son—lest she be accused of spoiling him. She just stayed silent.

—

Meanwhile, after deciding to enlist, Lu Bainian handed over his shop affairs to the original manager, only overseeing sales and quality.

He rested at home, practiced martial arts, and grew more mature by the day.

Everyone at home was reluctant to see him go.

Only Lu Jinnian, though also unwilling, felt a bit frustrated.

Even though Bainian was older, he hadn’t been much more mature. Now he was enlisting on his own?

Lu Jinnian looked at himself—he had the scholar’s title but no official post.

With his second brother gone, only he and young Lu Qing would remain as the Lu family’s men.

Though the household didn’t rely on him, the idea of being “the only man left” made him anxious.

Next door, the Song family was festively preparing for Song Lin’s wedding.

That made Lu Jinnian even more irritated.

Is there anything more annoying than watching someone you hate settle down?

That morning, after grooming himself, Lu Jinnian planned a trip to Longxing Temple.

Maybe he should make a clean break and stay on the straight path?

He had a servant prepare his horse. Just as he left the courtyard and reached the Song residence gate, he heard sharp cries inside.

Two servant women ran out shouting, “Something terrible has happened!”—so loud they nearly spooked his horse.

Lu Jinnian pulled the reins, calming the animal.

Seeing more people rushing out of the Song home, he and the servant stepped aside.

Then he saw Madam Wang carrying her daughter, with the nursemaid holding the twin boys.

The two children looked dazed and confused.

Madam Wang and the nursemaid looked terrified and in tears.

“Go to the Lu house! Quickly!”

Not knowing what had happened, Lu Jinnian assumed something serious occurred and led his horse back home.

Madam Wang ran in, breathless, hair messy.

She dropped to her knees as soon as she entered and checked the children over and over.

Only when she saw they were unharmed did she finally relax.

Lu Jinnian, the youngest Lu male, had interacted with Madam Wang before. In the past, he’d often joined Wen Ruyu’s card games, even playing himself.

So she wasn’t shy or awkward around him.

“What happened at your place, sister-in-law? Why did you all run out?”

He called her “sister-in-law” as Wang was Zhao Shu’s peer, and referred to Song Yuanwai as “Big Brother Song.”

“Jin—Jinnian,” Wang wiped sweat and tears, “Let’s go to your sister-in-law first. It’s hard to explain here.”

Soon, the Lu family welcomed her into Wen Ruyu’s room.

Zhao Shu was already there and thought Wang was just sneaking away to play cards.

But when she saw Wang’s disheveled state, both women were shocked.

“What happened?” Wen Ruyu asked.

At her words, Madam Wang’s eyes filled with tears.

A maid quickly offered her a handkerchief.

Wen Ruyu was about to have someone help Wang freshen up, thinking maybe she had suffered domestic abuse and didn’t want to talk about it.

But Wang didn’t shy away—she was still shaken and eager to vent.

“It’s that damn Song Lin!”

As soon as she mentioned Song Lin’s name with a curse, Lu Jinnian perked up. “What happened?”

Wen Ruyu and Zhao Shu both turned to look at him.

Sensing his mother’s glare, Lu Jinnian shut up and stayed still, lest he be kicked out for gossiping too loudly.

Wang, still in her own thoughts, didn’t notice their exchange.

She began to explain—but her fear made her ramble. Only after quite a while did she get to the point.

Even Wen Ruyu and the others were shocked.

It turned out, once the Song family discovered Song Lin was gay, they had kept a close watch on him—eventually even placing him under house arrest for a long time.

Though they released him, as his wedding day neared, they locked him up again, fearing he’d do something reckless.

The family he was to marry into—the Jiang family—was not particularly wealthy but had a good reputation. The bride’s father was a respected scholar with many students in the region.

Old Master Song greatly admired his intellect and insisted on the match.

He longed for a learned daughter-in-law after marrying off two uneducated ones.

He’d also seen the Lu family’s success and believed a smart woman could raise good sons across generations.

Everyone in the Song family supported the match.

Madam Wang was happy to have a sister-in-law she could talk to, and the elders hoped the marriage would help Song Lin mature.

But only one person opposed—the groom himself.

Song Lin had no intention of marrying a woman.