Chapter 10: All-round Forced Marriage
Luan happily went home carrying the stinky tofu.
Lu Yi, with his hands behind his back, strolled among the stalls near the pier with his big yellow dog.
He bought two frozen radishes, two pickled cabbages, a small pile of frozen pears, and ate two bowls of red oil wontons at a wonton stall. He bought two beef patties for the big yellow dog and packed ten for himself. Then he carried his things and went home satisfied.
While he was wandering outside, a porter carrying a bundle of firewood came into Yulu Hutong and pushed open the door of his courtyard.
The chubby caracal squinted its eyes and stared at the laborer fiercely. Seeing that it was an acquaintance, it let out a lazy "huh" and lay down on its back at the door of the shack, falling asleep with its head tilted.
Li Fu put the dry firewood into the woodshed in the courtyard, put a small bag of golden millet into the rice jar in the kitchen, hung two dried goat legs next to the birdcage under the south eaves, and walked out again.
Not long after Li Fu left, Lu Yi returned home carrying his things and walking in a square step.
He looked at the two goat legs under the eaves, touched the big yellow dog's head with a smile, went straight to the kitchen, and took a handful of millet from the bag.
A small scroll made of extremely thin and flexible bamboo paper came into Lu Yi's hands.
Ah Hu, who had just fried stinky tofu, only got information about Anlefang and several surrounding markets.
The big man who just delivered the things followed the rules set by Lu Yi. He delivered the information collected from the streets and alleys of hundreds of markets in Haojing once every seven days. After sorting and summarizing them, he sent them over by a special person through a special line.
Standing under the birdcage, he unfolded the scroll, which was covered with neat handwriting the size of a fly's head.
It was noted on it that starting from the second day of the Lunar New Year, teachers in the official schools and public academies in various districts under the jurisdiction of the Imperial College in Gaojing began to recite the poems that Lu Yi had written in the clan schools in recent years.
Poems like 'Geese, geese, geese, singing with their necks bent to the sky', 'I slept through the spring and did not feel the dawn', 'If I want to see a thousand miles away', etc., were all well received by the teachers in official schools and public schools.
There was also news from several big booksellers' residences around the Imperial College that the manuscripts of Lu Yi's calligraphy practice two years ago, which he copied in the "Weibei" font from the articles of several great sages of the Dayin Dynasty, had been received by those big booksellers.
Nowadays, those big booksellers are secretly carving blocks, preparing to print Lu Yi's practice works as "calligraphy copies" and sell them publicly.
Moreover, in many markets of the capital city of Hao, in those taverns, brothels, and among some middle and lower class scholar circles, Lu Yi's name had begun to spread within just a few days after the Chinese New Year.
In the Imperial College, Imperial Academy, Hanlin Academy and other places where literary and educational students gathered in the capital city of Hao, wise and talented people came forward to comment on the articles and poems that Lu Yi had written in the past.
There is also a great sage mentioned in Caiwei's comments, who openly commented on Lu Yi - "He is content with poverty, never forgets his original intention, and devotes himself to studying the books of sages. He can be regarded as a model for scholars in Haojing"!
In several high-end brothels, well-known young writers have been saying that by March, when the first issue of "Cai Wei Ping" list of the 19th year of Jiayou is published, Lu Yu will surely rise strongly and at least occupy a good position in the top 100.
Of course, the most important piece of news is that in the past three days, the engagement between Lu Yi and Miss Bai Shuang of the Bai family has spread throughout the literary circle.
Many scholars and officials praised the Bai family for their gentlemanly spirit of not despising Lu Yi's poor family background and fulfilling the marriage contract even at a cost of a thousand pieces of gold!
Many more people praised and envied Bai Changkong, saying that he had a "good eye for talent" and actually found such a good grandson-in-law.
There were also people who envied and were jealous of Lu Yi, saying that he was a boy from a poor family, yet he suddenly fell into a wealthy family.
As long as he marries Bai Shuang, and has Bai Changkong's "instructions" and "careful teaching", Lu Yi's future in the court will be no less than that of a third-rank official!
"This is hell!"
Lu Yi shook the small scroll in his hand. With a "hiss", wisps of green wind swirled rapidly around his fingertips, turning the scroll into a ball of extremely fine powder, which scattered to the ground.
He patted the big yellow dog's head vigorously and said with a gloomy face: "This is a ghost. If someone is trying to please you, he must be a traitor or a thief!"
"In just a few days, they went from desperately suppressing and stigmatizing me to sparing no effort to promote my name. This is... harboring evil intentions!"
Lu Yi frowned and asked the big yellow dog to himself: "What is this? Are you trying to flatter me? It doesn't seem like it!"
"They want to cancel the engagement!"
"If they praise my reputation too much, they won't be afraid of losing it. I'll say 'a gentleman's promise is worth a million gold'?"
The big yellow dog whined twice, wagging its tail and looking at Lu Yi, its bright eyes full of confusion!
With a clang, the door of the courtyard was pushed open.
Lu Yi glanced hurriedly in the direction of the gate, and saw the contemporary Duke of Lai, Lu Yu, who was of plump appearance and round figure, walking in with his hands behind his back, wrapped in a gorgeous green-feather crane cloak and wearing a white jade lotus crown.
When Lu Yu saw Lu Yi, he laughed out loud.
"My dear nephew, you have great potential. Very good, very good."
"Speaking of which, my nephew's father and I had a very good relationship when we were young. I like to absorb qi to nourish my body and make medicine; your father is also very interested in holy gods, immortals, demons and monsters."
"Back then, in the Imperial College, my nephew's father and I had many late night talks by candlelight. How happy were we?"
"It's just that your brother has risen in power and has even been awarded a title for his meritorious service. We were originally a family, but due to the rules of the dynasty, we were forcibly separated. That's why your father and I have become more distant."
"Ah, I just didn't expect that your father..."
Lu Yu walked up to Lu Yi, patted Lu Yi's shoulder enthusiastically, and said loudly: "However, you are a promising person, worthy of being a descendant of my Jingyang Lu family."
"I understand now. The future of the Great Yin Dynasty will still be dominated by scholars."
"Fighting and killing have no future. Especially since Dayin is peaceful now, even if the martial arts are still strong, where is the place for them to be used?"
"Only by studying can you have a future."
"You are the best scholar of my Lu family, and you are valued by Bai Shanzhang. You are also his grandson-in-law. Hey, hey, maybe in the future, the face of my Jingyang Lu family in the court will be you, my dear nephew!"
Without waiting for the stunned Lu Yi to speak, Lu Yu said to himself, "The date has been decided. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, you can get married and enter the bridal chamber. Oh, don't worry about anything, your uncle has prepared everything for you!"
Lu Yu grinned, took out a land deed from his sleeve and stuffed it into Lu Yi's hand without any hesitation.
"This is a six-story house in Min'anfang. It's not big, only about 15 acres. You want to marry the granddaughter of Baishanzhang, so n't do. It's too poor. You can move into this house tonight!"
"Don't worry, nephew. I will help you with everything about the wedding. With the Duke of Lai's Mansion in charge, it will definitely be a grand wedding!"
Lu Yu smiled so much that his eyes narrowed into a line.
He smiled triumphantly, and without waiting for Lu Yi's response, he put his hands behind his back and walked out triumphantly, leaving only a few servants waiting in the yard. These were the people who were ready to help Lu Yi move!
To Lu Yu, Lu Yi was just a junior from a side branch.
Whether Lu Yu himself and Lu Yi’s father really have such a good relationship is not important, not important at all.
What’s important is that Lu Yi will be Bai Changkong’s grandson-in-law in the future, and Bai Changkong is one of the representative figures of culture and education in the Dayin court.
Nowadays, Dayin's martial arts are declining, while culture and education are rising.
Traditional wealthy families either try every means to suppress the cultural and educational lineage, or try every means to get closer to the cultural and educational lineage.
The Lu Yi Society is a natural link between the Laiguo Mansion and the cultural and educational forces represented by Bai Changkong.
In order to win over Lu Yi, it is certainly a bit painful to give up a mere six-courtyard house in Min'anfang.
But compared with the benefits brought by Lu Yi, what is this?
Not long after Lu Yugang left, Madam Hu came flying in with a gust of fragrant wind and the "cluck, cluck" sound like a hen laying eggs. A dozen maids and strong women followed her hurriedly.
"Brother, Brother, congratulations, congratulations!"
Mrs. Hu smiled like a flower and almost fell into Lu Yi's arms. She grabbed Lu Yi's hand and the land deed in his hand, laughing loudly.
Amidst her laughter, Mrs. Hu skillfully tilted her eyes and saw the details of the land deed in Lu Yi's hand.
She was stunned for a moment, and then her laughter became louder and louder, a laughter that truly came from the heart.
"Oh my, he is worthy of being the Duke of Lai, the head of our Jingyang Lu family in Haojing City. This move is really generous, generous!"
"Oh my, with him like this, the three-story courtyard that I prepared for you is really not presentable at all. Oh, the Duke of Lai's mansion is really rich!"
"Since the Duke of Lai's Mansion is worried about it, Auntie will be relieved!"
"In that case, there is nothing I can do. Anyway, when you get married, a generous gift will definitely not be missing!"
"Oh, oh, this is truly a blessing from heaven!"
"I didn't expect that Lord Bai Qiongbai said that he just wanted to test your character a few days ago. I didn't expect that you are such a steady person who can remain calm in the face of danger."
"It's called, what is it called?"
"That's right, you remain calm in the face of danger, which is very gentlemanly!"
"Well, plus you have such a good character, such a good appearance, and such great talent."
"How else can you say that Miss Bai Shuang decided on you at first sight and would not marry anyone but you?"
"Happy or unhappy? Happy or unhappy?"
"On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, you can get married!"
"Oh, look at this, this is really a blessing, Brother Wu, you are so lucky, your family will definitely be able to grow and prosper in the future. The Bai family has three generations, and there is only one beloved daughter like this. Are you afraid that you will not be able to enjoy the blessings and benefits of you in the future?"
Mrs. Hu tightly grasped Lu Yi's hand, her eyes fixed on the deed. She exerted force with her fingers again and again, and finally resisted the urge to snatch the deed and examine it carefully.
She leaned close to Lu Wu's ear and whispered, "Hey, Wu'er, auntie has something to say. After thinking it over, I still want to tell you."
"Tsk, your father-in-law brought a salt permit document to your aunt, but this salt permit can only be used to sell official salt in Anlefang."
"When you get married... no, when you marry Miss Bai Shuang, can you help me change this salt permit into one that can be freely sold in Gaojing City?"
"It's better to keep the wealth within the family. I'm your aunt!"
Lu Yi stared at Mrs. Hu in a daze. After a moment of silence, he suddenly smiled and said, "Aunt is right. It is very reasonable to keep the wealth within the family."
"Well, I won't move today. I still have some things to sort out here."
"I'll move tomorrow afternoon. I'll move tomorrow afternoon."
"I'll ask someone to take care of the brothers left behind by Duke Lai and Aunt Lao. I'll move tomorrow!"
"As for the rest, just wait until I get married, and then we can discuss everything. We are a family, there is nothing that cannot be discussed!"
