Chapter 77

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From He Valley Prefecture to Fushui County official documents were often delivered by yamen runners riding fast horses. Sometimes, a single rider would travel alone, while other times, two riders on horseback would escort more important correspondence.

At this moment, two yamen officers were traveling along the official road toward Fushui County. The mountains on either side of the road were tinged with yellow, signaling the season. Farmers stooped in the fields to harvest crops, occasionally straightening up to scold children playing by the fields. Their eyes followed the two riders in official attire galloping past on horseback.

Such scenes were a common sight and hardly drew much attention. The farmers bent down again to continue cutting grain. From a distance, however, a long trail of dust appeared at the end of the road, rapidly approaching.

Unable to resist, a farmer removed his hat to get a clearer look. “What’s that?”

At that moment, atop the galloping horses on the official road, the two yamen officers carrying the official documents cracked their whips.

“Hyah!”

“You said we’d arrive in Fushui County by this afternoon. At this pace, it looks like it’ll be evening before we get there.”

“Brother, we’re lucky as it is. These two horses are the fastest in the yamen. If you were riding a donkey, how do you think you’d fare?!”

The other officer burst out laughing. “You’re right. If it were a countryside donkey, I’m afraid we wouldn’t arrive until dawn.”

Clop, clop, clop…

Their laughter was suddenly interrupted by the sound of galloping hooves from behind. The officer who had just laughed instinctively turned his head to glance back.

A swirling cloud of dust surged straight toward them from behind.

“What in the world…? Hey, hey… it’s catching up!!”

Both men turned their heads simultaneously, only to see a shabby, balding donkey galloping with remarkable enthusiasm. It huffed and puffed as it ran, swiftly pulling alongside them. On its back, two creaking bookshelves swayed noisily with every stride.

The yamen officer nearest the field widened his eyes in disbelief.

“If I told you, you wouldn’t believe it—a donkey just outran the two of us…”

The other officer abruptly pulled his horse to a stop, his face pale as he gasped for breath. In the blink of an eye, the dust engulfed their vision. Coughing a few times, he glanced at his companion, who had also reined in his mount and slowed down.

“…Did… did you see that? There were two people riding that donkey…”

Both men instinctively lowered their heads, glancing at the horses beneath them.

As the dust gradually cleared, they looked ahead again, only to find that not even a single hair of the donkey remained in sight. Along the official road ahead, the donkey raced away, carrying its riders. On the galloping donkey’s back, Lu Liangsheng felt a surge of exhilaration as the rolling hills of Qixia Mountain and the sprawling fields blurred past him.

Seated behind him was a Daoist, one hand pressed against his temple while the other occasionally pulled out yellow talismans. He slapped them onto the donkey’s rump before discarding the depleted ones behind him. Shouting against the wind, he said:

“Next time, let’s get a horse! Two grown men crammed together like this—people are going to get the wrong idea!”

Lu Liangsheng turned his head, laughing heartily. “I forgot when we left. But this old donkey isn’t bad—there’s some sentiment to it!”

The Daoist carried little luggage, and Lu Liangsheng’s belongings were all stowed in the bookshelves. Master Toad didn’t take up much space either. The old donkey was more than sufficient to accommodate them all. Besides, with the aid of Shrinking the Ground to Inches and the Daoist’s Swift Travel Technique, the donkey’s speed wasn’t slow. There was no need to spend money on a horse.

Racing forward like the wind, they sped past the Mountain God Temple where they had once rested. The road ahead stretched straight toward Fushui County. What would normally take others a day or two was covered by the two of them in barely half a day.

In the distance, the outline of the city walls came into view. The talisman enhancements were withdrawn, and the old donkey, letting out a long bray, shook its mane as it continued to trot forward, though now at a much slower pace. Still carrying the scholar and the Daoist, it plodded leisurely toward the city gate.

For a moment, the donkey blinked its large eyes, seemingly confused about why it had slowed down.

The two dismounted, and Lu Liangsheng led the donkey by its reins as he and the Daoist walked through the familiar streets. By then, the yamen had already closed for the day, so they headed straight to the small courtyard where Lu Liangsheng’s mentor resided.

After knocking on the door several times and receiving no response, they soon learned from a passing neighbor that Wang Shuhua had been reassigned, accompanying County Magistrate Min Changwen to a new post.

At first, Lu Liangsheng thought it might be a joke, but a visit to the yamen confirmed it. Magistrate Min had been summoned back to the capital to resume his original position in the imperial government, and Wang Shuhua, his loyal advisor through many hardships, had gone with him.

Before leaving, he had left a letter at the yamen, waiting for Lu Liangsheng’s return.

On their way out of the city, Lu Liangsheng opened the letter. The brushstrokes were bold and vigorous, exuding a sense of strength.

“To Liangsheng, to be opened by you personally:

As your teacher, I first wish Liansheng success in the provincial examinations, securing the top honors in one fell swoop. It is a shame I cannot congratulate you in person, so I leave this letter as a farewell. When you set off for your exams, the county magistrate received a summons from the capital. Having weathered countless storms together, I could not bear to see him face the perils of the court alone upon his return to the capital.

I have prepared a banquet in the capital to welcome you and celebrate your success. How joyous it will be for teacher and student to reunite and share laughter once again.”

Mentor…

Whether it was Master Toad or Wang Shuhua, who taught him his academic knowledge, both were guiding figures on Lu Liangsheng’s different paths in life.

“What did it say?” The Daoist, noticing his pensive expression, couldn’t help but lean over curiously.

In response, Lu Liangsheng pushed his face away with one hand.

“My mentor followed Magistrate Min Changwen to the capital. He’s invited me to join them there.”

“Looks like you’ve got a lot on your plate. Well then, let’s hurry back. After all that riding, I’m starving.”

As they chatted, the two, accompanied by the donkey, strolled leisurely along the road toward Lu Family Village. The afternoon light slanted westward, and the golden hues of dusk spilled over the mountain peaks, casting a warm glow on the patchwork of fields in the distance. Many farmers were still busy harvesting their crops.

One farmer, noticing the pair and their donkey on the roadside, rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Then, with a loud voice, he shouted excitedly to those around him:

“Stop what you’re doing! Quick, look! Who’s come back?!”

His voice echoed through the fields. The farmers paused their work, straightened their backs, and, realizing what was happening, tossed aside their wheat stalks and tools. They hurried toward the road in a wave of excitement.

“Liangsheng—”

“Liangsheng’s back!!”

“…Everyone, come over here!”

The crowd surged onto the road, surrounding the scholar with enthusiasm. They bombarded him with questions about life in the big city, asking if he had been bullied and how he had managed.

“It’s fine over there. There’s a place to stay, so don’t worry. You should focus on your work for now. Once everything’s done, we’ll gather back in the village to catch up.”

It was impossible for him to respond to everyone individually. However, some villagers noticed the Daoist, warmly slapping his shoulder and greeting him with familiarity, their laughter mingling with the joy of reunion.

As they neared the village entrance, Lu Pan, Lu Qing, and six others came running out to greet him. Compared to two months ago, their physiques had noticeably improved. With a better diet and diligent practice of the fitness techniques Lu Liangsheng had taught them, even the relatively thin Lu Qing now had a solid chest, which he occasionally flexed, making his pectoral muscles bounce.

“Make way, make way! Let Liangsheng go see his parents first!”

Lu Pan cleared a path through the crowd, and behind them, Grandfather Lu, leaning on his walking stick, tapped it firmly on the ground. At his command, the villagers gathered at the entrance promptly stepped aside, forming a clear passage.

Walking past the crowd, Lu Liangsheng released the donkey’s reins and stepped forward to support Grandfather Lu. Together, they made their way into the village. Along the way, children who had just finished school approached. Upon recognizing him, they froze momentarily, then collectively bowed.

“Teacher!”

“No need for formalities. Hurry home and have your dinner.”

Lu Liangsheng smiled as he addressed them. These children were all familiar to him, students he had personally taught. Standing near the school’s entrance was a middle-aged scholar, his wide-sleeved robe patched in several places. When he noticed Lu Liangsheng looking his way, he respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

After bidding farewell to the villagers, Lu Liangsheng returned to his family’s small courtyard. The season for morning glory flowers had passed, and the vines covering the fence had turned a withered yellow.

At the courtyard gate, Li Jinhua, Lu Laoshi, and the now fourteen-year-old Lu Xiaoxian were already waiting for him.

“Brother!”

Lu Xiaoxian darted forward and threw herself into her brother’s arms. Lu Liangsheng patted her head with a smile. “You’re a big girl now, yet you are still so impatient.”

“I don’t care; you’re my brother.”

The young girl hummed as she nestled into her brother’s embrace. When she let go, the Daoist quickly ran up, spreading his arms wide.

“What about me? What about me?!”

Lu Xiaoxian cast him a sidelong glance, clasped her hands behind her back, and spun on her heel to walk away. “I don’t hug just anyone!”

“Hey, hey, that’s not fair! I’m at least half a brother to you!”

Sun Yingxian shouted from behind, only to feel a sudden tap on his head.

Turning around, he saw the scholar had already lowered his hand and was walking past him.

“Mind your boundaries; that’s my sister.”

At the courtyard gate, the family exchanged a few jokes before heading inside together. Lu Liangsheng pushed open the door to his room, untouched for two months but impeccably clean. He hung up the portrait of Honglian, then flopped onto the bed. The Toad Daoist scurried out of a cloth pouch, stretched lazily, and glanced around. Taking a deep breath, he seemed to savor the familiar smell.

As the sun set, the small kitchen was bustling. Nie Honglian floated in mid-air, passing bowls and refilling dishes. Li Jinhua busied herself with preparing the final course, calling to the Daoist at the stove to add more firewood.

Sun Yingxian threw in a yellow talisman, pinching his fingers into a seal. Flames roared up, licking the edges of the pot, prompting Li Jinhua to chase him around with a spatula.

Under the dim oil lamp, the Toad Daoist curled up, while a mottled old hen under the table glared at him with unblinking eyes.

Under the eaves, Lu Laoshi wove baskets needed by the village, smiling as he glanced over to the other side. There, Lu Xiaoxian, holding a brush, tilted her head in frustration at her own drawing on the rack. With a sigh, she tore it down and crumpled it into a ball.

Lu Liangsheng took in the lively scene in the courtyard, a warm smile spreading across his face.

“Home really is the most comfortable place.”