Father Lu didn't say much. He looked thoroughly furious and barely touched his dinner that evening.
Lu Changsheng questioned Lu Haozi.
After a long while, the latter flushed and said angrily, "Xinghua's father is a complete scoundrel! He went back on the marriage arrangement we already agreed upon!"
"And that Village Elder Zhao—he talks absolute nonsense and is completely biased toward Xinghua's family!"
Lu Changsheng frowned and asked for the specific details.
It turned out that the two of them had gone to Xinghua's house that morning to discuss the formal wedding arrangements.
To their surprise, they couldn't even get past the door of Xinghua's house all morning.
Xinghua belonged to the Zhao clan and lived in the middle village, where all the residents were surnamed Zhao. Legend had it that generations ago, the village had only consisted of people named Zhao, and it wasn't called a village back then, but an estate. It only became a village later, as people with other surnames moved in.
As the two of them walked down the path into the middle village, every short distance they would encounter people blocking the road, demanding wedding money.
If they had none, they wouldn't let them pass.
Father Lu had been prepared and took out some copper coins to hand out one by one, but this sort of thing was supposed to be just a token of good luck.
Whether the wedding money was a bit more or a bit less shouldn't have mattered much, especially since everyone in the village was from a farming background and not wealthy.
To their astonishment, after they had given away all their wedding money, the two of them realized they hadn't even caught sight of Xinghua's house.
And those Zhao villagers blocking the road didn't disperse; they remained in a standoff with the two of them.
At first, the two hadn't thought much of it, assuming these Zhao villagers were simply giving them some tests, and stubbornly waited in place for most of the day.
In the end, one of the blocking Zhao villagers couldn't bear it any longer and gave them a secret hint.
"It's not that we insist on blocking you, but this matter was brought to us as a favor by Xinghua's family. We're all of the same surname Zhao, so it's hard for us to refuse!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Haozi flew into a rage and rushed straight to Zhao Xinghua's house, demanding an explanation.
However, Zhao Xinghua wasn't home; he only met Xinghua's father.
His words, polite and apologetic on the surface, were quite something.
On one hand, he claimed Xinghua didn't like him and would rather throw herself into the river and commit suicide than be forced into the marriage.
On the other hand, he suggested that with the Lu family's current circumstances, finding a bride for him should be effortless anyway.
Just then, the village elder also stepped forward.
Anyone in the village who could be called "Elder" was a person of great status and respect.
Yet this time, he sided entirely with Xinghua's family.
In the end, it all amounted to nothing more than a casual, perfunctory apology from Xinghua's father!
"Tomorrow, I'm going to go find Xinghua. She must be willing to be with me!"
Lu Haozi clenched his fists tightly.
Lu Changsheng shook his head and said, "Doesn't my big brother understand yet? Xinghua definitely knew about this!"
"Let me ask you: were her father's words actually Xinghua's original thoughts?"
"Yes! Xinghua likes me, otherwise she wouldn't say such preposterous things! The riverbed is completely dry right now anyway, so even if she jumped, she couldn't possibly die—besides, Xinghua knows how to swim!"
Lu Changsheng felt a headache coming on.
Confirmed beyond a doubt: his own older brother was a simp!
"Whether she does or not, you'll find out in a few days!"
Lu Changsheng shook his head.
The ins and outs of this matter were actually quite simple.
The Zhao family members had blocked the father and son simply to make them give up so that Zhao Xinghua's reputation could be preserved as much as possible.
"My eldest brother and Zhao Xinghua were already betrothed, just one step away from the wedding. If it were merely some ordinary issue preventing the marriage, there'd be no need to make such a fuss! There must be something else behind this!"
"Perhaps it's also connected to the fact that I can no longer slack off and fish anymore!"
In recent days, the weather had grown increasingly dry, and the immature crops were already beginning to wither.
Talk of a severe drought was spreading throughout the village.
Droughts were not without precedent, and once they became a disaster, they certainly wouldn't pass in a short time.
There was no guarantee they would get through next year, let alone the year after.
"I need to find a way to open up new sources of livelihood!"
Just a few days later, the news did indeed spread.
Zhao Xinghua had somehow found an opening and claimed she was heading to Heishan Prefecture to become a maid for a wealthy household.
Rumor also had it that she was going to be a concubine.
And obviously, the Lu family had become nothing more than a stepping stone.
However, this matter wasn't discussed for long, because the drought truly arrived.
"The timing is just fatal, hitting right before the autumn harvest!"
Looking at the gloomy and distressed elderly couple, Lu Changsheng felt as though they had aged significantly all at once.
Two days later, he took the time to visit the fields, only to be met with a expanse of withered, dead crops.
Lu Changsheng's heart grew heavy as well.
Every now and then, he would see Father Lu sitting on the doorstep with his dry-tobacco pipe, staring blankly at Xiao Heitu playing not far away, as if hesitating over something.
Whenever that happened, Lu Changsheng couldn't help reaching out to stroke Xiao Heitu's little head.
The little girl would look up and smile at Lu Changsheng, then look over and smile at Father Lu not far away.
Despite the family's life becoming extremely difficult during this period, she remained remarkably optimistic.
"I have to make a trip to Zhao Deshui's house tomorrow!"
Lu Changsheng thought to himself.
The next day, after practicing his archery as usual, he went straight to Zhao Deshui's house and found him.
"Uncle Zhao!"
Lu Changsheng looked respectfully at Zhao Deshui before him.
"Erdan? You came looking for me for something?"
A strange look flickered in Zhao Deshui's eyes. He always felt that having a conversation with a child felt somewhat unnatural.
"I was wondering if Uncle Zhao could take me to Heishan Prefecture?"
Zhao Deshui's expression changed slightly.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly took a breath and said in a deep voice, "As it happens, there's a severe drought this year. Before the end of the year, the Zhao family is organizing a team to head to Heishan Prefecture. You can come find me then!"
Although Lu Changsheng hadn't mentioned money or silver, Zhao Deshui added, "Going to Master Chen's place isn't simple, which is why it took a bit longer to arrange. Fortunately, I've sorted it out. When you get to Heishan Prefecture, remember to be careful. If you can't make a living there, just come back!"
"Understood, Uncle Zhao!"
Joy welled up in Lu Changsheng's heart as he walked out the door.
A moment later, someone emerged from the inner room—none other than Zhao Deshui's married younger sister, Zhao Qing.
She had returned this time without making the slightest noise or drawing any attention.
"The matter is basically settled, so I'll be heading back first. Given the current situation, it's not suitable for me to stay here long!"
"Won't you stay a little longer?"
Zhao Deshui asked.
Ever since Zhao Qing was married off, their relationship had grown much more distant.
"If I'm gone too long and the master finds out when he returns, he'll definitely scold me!"
Zhao Qing changed into the attire of a commoner to avoid being targeted by bandits on the return journey.
However, she had also hired two private guards to accompany her, so she wasn't worried about trouble.
"Besides, there's also Lin'er back there whom I need to keep an eye on!"
Zhao Deshui didn't press her further.
Watching his younger sister vanish into the mist, he felt a mixture of mixed emotions, lingering sentiment, jealousy, and resignation.
"As expected of someone connected to a scholar!"
Just look at his younger sister—proud since childhood, and as she grew older, she pulled every string possible to reach Heishan Prefecture. When she finally returned, she was already Master Chen's concubine.
It had truly come as a shock to them all.
Yet even such a proud bird had to bow in submission to that scholar, living in constant fear of displeasing him.
In the dead of night.
Several figures quietly slipped out of Zhao Family Village.
Zhao Qing walked at the very front. Behind her, aside from two sword-wielding guards, walked a young woman.
"Aunt Qing, can I really marry into a wealthy family?"
"Rest assured! With your aunt pulling strings and making connections for you, it's practically guaranteed!"
Zhao Qing said.
She glanced at Zhao Xinghua, noting that although the girl's attire and grooming were somewhat sloppy, her facial features were delicate and her figure full and curvaceous. With just a little bit of dressing up, she would definitely possess a unique charm.
When the time came, she would parade her around a few wealthy households; there was a good chance she'd catch someone's eye.
And if all else failed, becoming a concubine was an option too!
"Xinghua, Heishan Prefecture isn't a village. People are numerous and complicated there. One wrong look could offend a powerful person, and you'd die without even knowing where you are! Now that your aunt is giving you a hand, you must remember my kindness in the future!"
"Don't worry, Aunt!" Zhao Xinghua replied prettily, having long since thrown her previous marriage to the winds.
......
A few more days passed, and everyone gave up any lingering hope that the drought would let up.
While practicing his archery, Lu Changsheng suddenly heard Wang Heihou's voice.
"Changsheng! I'm done for!"
Wang Heihou walked over, accompanied by Niu Dazhuang and Li Nangua.
"How are you done for?"
"My parents abandoned me! They're sending me to Heishan Prefecture!" Wang Heihou's eyes were brimming with tears.
Niu Dazhuang and Li Nangua weren't doing much better either.
Lu Changsheng couldn't help finding it somewhat amusing. "Going to Heishan Prefecture is obviously about pursuing a future. Why would you be done for?"
"You don't understand! I heard them say that Heishan Prefecture devours people without spitting out their bones, and the roads are filled with people frozen to death, with corpses piled high enough to reach the sky!"
Wang Heihou's face turned pale as paper.
"That ghost place is only fit for wealthy families with money. If we go there, we'll just end up eaten alive!"
Lu Changsheng fell silent as well.
He knew nothing about Heishan Prefecture, and a sliver of apprehension inevitably crept into his heart.
When Zhao Deshui's younger sister, Zhao Qing, had returned to the village last time, many people had gone to crowd around and join in the excitement. Those who were a bit more worldly had directly presented her with silver and gifts.
Lu Changsheng felt that although the news that day had been somewhat muddled, there was no need to dwell on it any longer.
"In two days, we leave!"
Looking at the three tear-stained children, Lu Changsheng felt a wave of complex emotions.
At that moment, he suddenly sensed something and looked down.
"You have achieved the milestone of reaching 10 years of age, Physique +1!"
......