Chapter 704: Chapter 238: Farewell
Lu Tong walked along the road.
All around was dense white fog that didn’t dissipate, yet the road underfoot looked somewhat familiar.
Apricot trees were planted along the street, bearing green, unripe fruits, when suddenly someone patted her from behind and wrapped their arms around her shoulders, rubbing her head vigorously: "I’m back!"
She turned around in surprise, staring blankly at the young man in front of her dressed in a green robe and wearing a simple headband.
The young man had a bookcase on his back, with sharp and handsome features, pulling out a handful of candy beans from the case and stuffing them into her hand, "Here, for you."
She looked at the candy wrapped in rice paper in her palm and then at the person in front of her: "Lu Qian?"
"No respect," he scolded with a laugh, hooking his arm around Lu Tong’s neck and walking forward, "call me brother—"
The surroundings gradually brightened, the hilltops painted the long street with slanting crimson hues, the smell of meals wafting through the alleys, filling the air, as the noise of the neighbors’ warm chatter grew louder.
Up ahead, the main gate creaked open, revealing Zhang Xiuli’s face from inside. The young girl, dressed in a goose-yellow brocade magnolia dress, looked like a fresh spring flower blooming as she called out with a smile: "Ah Qian, little sister, hurry in, wash your hands and have a meal!"
She stood there, dumbfounded, her eyes moistening in the lingering sunset.
This was the Lu Family of Changwu County’s residence.
"Coming, coming—" Lu Qian said, pulling her through the front door.
Inside was the dining hall, with a long wooden bench, and through the window, a small courtyard that had been swept clean; three rooms abutted the courtyard, still adorned with paintings and calligraphy. Near the kitchen, a stone jar filled with water, a gourd ladle floating on the surface.
Lu Tong stopped.
The familiar home, where she had lived for many years, showed no signs of fire, no charred wood or ashes. It remained just as she remembered from years ago, like an aged yellowed paper, the ink warm and gentle.
"What are you standing there for?" Lu Qian pulled her to wash their hands, "Be careful, or dad will scold you later."
"You’ve come back so late," their father’s light cough came from behind, his face stern as he said, "Most likely dawdled on the way."
Lu Tong turned around.
She saw her father, wearing that familiar half-worn cotton jacket with a frayed collar, saw her mother, carrying a winnowing basket with fragrant toon seeds from the yard, her hairdo bearing fragments of apricot leaves.
They stood there before her, looking well.
Tears streamed down Lu Tong’s face.
"Oh my," Lu Rou said, hurrying over with a handkerchief to wipe away her tears: "Why are you crying?"
She wrapped her arms around Lu Rou, like a lonely traveler who finally found the way home, her grief mixed with joy, with sorrow within, unable to hold back, and burst into sobs.
Lu Rou gently patted her on the back, comforting her softly just as she used to when Lu Tong made trouble and was scolded by their father: "Little sister is all grown up now and still cries so much."
"She has been a crybaby since she was young," Lu Qian teased her, rubbing her head, "But Lu San, you’re this big now, do you still love to cry so much?"
Lu Tong was momentarily dazed.
She was not one to take grievances lightly.
At home, after arguing and quarreling with Lu Qian, she would always cry first, taking advantage of her youth, and in the end, it was Lu Qian who would be scolded. Lu Qian always said that her eyes held a vast lake, shedding tears at the drop of a hat. Later, when she followed Lady Yun to Luomei Peak, there was no one left to bully her.
She had nearly forgotten what being wronged felt like.
She no longer loved to cry.
Lu Tong lifted her head, whispering softly, "Dad, mom, sister, second brother, are you here to take me home?"
It is said that after death, one returns to the place they yearned for the most in life.
During her time at Luomei Peak, she often wondered if she would return to her hometown after dying. She wanted to return to the Lu Family, to see her family again.
The motion of wiping tears stopped, Lu Rou pulled back her hand, smiling slightly as she shook her head.
"Tong Tong," she said, "you have grown up."
Lu Tong looked at her, dumbfounded.
"Little sister has grown up," Lu Rou smiled at her, "She can even go to the capital alone to avenge our family."
"Ke Chengxing, Fan Zhenglian, Liu Kun, Qi Yutai... you did well, you are very impressive."
Lu Tong was shaken.
As if her shameful past had been exposed, the parts she desperately wanted to keep hidden, she mumbled, not daring to lift her head and look at her family’s expressions.
"Lu San, I originally thought you were a coward, but I was wrong," the young man’s voice rang out, clear and vigorous as ever, "With this, we can rest assured about the future."
"I’m sorry..." she stammered, "I..."
She wanted to say she didn’t wish to be so cruel, to diligently use her heart and mind, she wanted to say the Lu Family has a strict family discipline, yet she betrayed their teachings, she wanted to say so much, so much more, but as the words reached her lips, she could not utter a single one.