Returning from the abyss

Chapter 1299 Family

Huai Ling was just a city in the past, but now under the management of Lu family, it is more than just a city. The main family of Lu family does not live in Huai Ling city, but in a private land outside the city.

According to the laws of the Wei Dynasty, enclosing land for private use is a serious crime, but this is something that almost every aristocratic family would do, and as long as it is not done too recklessly, the local government will just turn a blind eye. Huai Ling Lu Clan naturally has the capital to do this.

Huailing City is where the four factions of the Lu family compete for merit, and it is also the core place for the main family to test the younger generations. The main family of the Lu family is composed of twelve important figures from each branch family. According to the ancestral precepts, scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans each have three seats. If there is a major event in the family that needs to be decided, it must be agreed upon by the twelve people before it can be carried out.

However, there are no daily matters that need to be decided by the head of the family. The conflicts between the various factions of the family have their own solutions.

"But I've been away from home for a long time." Lu Qingxu said, "From the recent letters, the situation in the Lu family is no longer as good as when I left. At that time, although everyone was dissatisfied with each other, they still wanted to excel in their abilities. Now, they even use some shady means."

"Secret means?"

"Of course, they didn't say it in the letter, but someone in the aristocratic faction hinted to me to block some of the trade routes of the merchant faction." Lu Qingxu shook his head, "I just pretended not to know, but there are always people trying to take advantage of me."

"You refused them all?"

"No, I sent people to investigate those merchants. Some of them also violated the rules set by our ancestors. They used smaller weights, shortchanged goods, sold inferior goods as good ones, and hoarded goods to make a profit... Human greed is especially evident in those merchants. After all, only a few can really do big business. On the contrary, most people are obsessed with small profits."

Lu Ning didn't ask any more questions. Given Lu Qingxu's personality, he would naturally deal with these people according to the law.

But even though Lu Qingxu was so strict, he still only dealt with a few people. For example, he did not pursue the matter of Lu's enclosure of land for private use.

"Ah Ning, most of what I've said is about the Huai Ling Lu family when I left. Meeting my brother at Zhenjian Villa only made me more certain that the Huai Ling Lu family today is probably very different."

"Why? That Ling Xiao Sword looks very polite."

"It's strange to let him come. Why would the Huai Ling Lu family want to participate in such a martial arts event? We are a noble family, not a martial arts sect. Even if there are a few people wandering around, they won't have anything to do with our family. Asking the fourth brother to come here specially can only mean that he was asked by someone to help him. He can't refuse, so he had to come."

"That is to say, now that Lu is pregnant——"

"I'm afraid it's no longer what I knew it to be."

The territory of Huailing is now much wider. Everyone knows that the Huailing Lu family encourages competition and is good at cultivating future generations. Even some local wealthy families like to send their children to the Lu family school, and the Lu family will also accept some children from other families after a certain examination.

Thus, after years of accumulation, the Lu family has become like a local tyrant in the local area, and even the local government has to give way to them. The Lu family is cautious in their actions, and even if they do cross the line, they are no different from other aristocratic families, so the local government is also willing to make friends with them.

When they were almost at Huai Ling, Lu Qingxu took over the driving job and drove the car into a small village near Huai Ling, called Qinghe. This village was unlike the ones he had seen on the road before. There were armored soldiers guarding the entrance of the village, and there were also young men patrolling inside the village.

"It looks like the militia has also been called up." Lu Qingxu called out, "Aning, get out of the car."

"Huai Ling is only 50 to 60 miles away, why stop here?"

"Because I placed my parents here." Lu Qingxu said with a smile, "You can just call them grandpa and grandma. We don't have so many rules in our family."

Lu Ning was stunned for a moment. As far as she could remember, she had never met Lu Qingxu's parents. In her impression, Lu Qingxu's parents lived in Huailing, but she didn't expect that they were not in the city?

Lu Qingxu brought her to a large courtyard with green tiles and red walls, reached out and pulled the door knocker and knocked twice.

"Who?"

"Uncle Jun, I'm back!" Lu Qingxu heard the voice and said happily. On the way out of Zhenjian Villa, Lu Ning had never seen Lu Qingxu so happy.

"Young Master?"

There was a sound of hurried footsteps from inside the door, and then someone opened the gate. An old man with white hair and beard came out. Seeing Lu Qingxu, he excitedly took two steps forward and grabbed Lu Qingxu's hand: "Master, you are back. When I saw the letter you sent back, I was worried that something might happen on the way. Fortunately, fortunately..."

"Don't worry, Uncle Jun. You followed me to various places to take up posts back then, so you know what I'm capable of." Lu Qingxu said with a smile.

"Things are different now, it's good to be back. Oh, this is...A Ning?"

"Yes. Aning, this Uncle Jun's surname is Shi, and his given name is Jun. When I left Huai Ling and went out to serve as an official, Uncle Jun was one of the first people to follow me. Later, Uncle Jun got old and couldn't stand the fatigue of traveling, so I asked him to return to his hometown to take care of my parents."

"Come, come, come in and talk." Shi Jun pulled Lu Qingxu, greeted Lu Ning, and warmly welcomed them into the yard. Several people immediately came out of the yard. They were all older, except for a few young and strong people dressed as security guards.

Lu Qingxu smiled and greeted everyone one by one. He knew all of them. They were all his trusted aides. Then, he walked around the main hall and into the backyard surrounded by people.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back!"

Following Lu Qingxu's call, two old men came out of the house.

The two had kind faces, but they were old and no longer energetic. Lu Ning could see that they were already weak. Lu Qingxu just came forward to ask about their well-being and introduced Lu Ning to the two elders. The two elders liked Lu Ning and praised her.

After meeting and settling everything, Lu Qingxu helped the two elders back to the house to rest, and then invited Shi Jun to come in to talk. Lu Ning was naturally led in as well.

"Uncle Jun, I won't tell you when I'll be back. I think you know why."

"Master, you don't have to be so careful. Even though you lost your position, no one in the Lu family dares to..."

"Uncle Jun, you have been an official with me for several years, you should know that I am not afraid of this. Even if I am no longer an official, I am not afraid of being looked down upon by the younger generation." "Yes, but the Huai Ling Lu family is no longer the same as when I followed you out."

"I do have some bad guesses about the current situation at home because of the letters I've read over the years." Lu Qingxu took a piece of paper and dipped the brush in ink. "Uncle Jun, you've been at home in recent years. Why don't you tell me what's going on?"

"Nowadays, there are disputes not only among the four factions of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, but also among the various branches. In the past, you brothers competed with each other on the basis of your skills and achievements. But now, do you know how many young talents the Lu family has lost in recent years?" Shi Jun shook his head and sighed, "At the Lu Yong family at the dock, the eldest son was killed by pirates, the second son was injured in the eye by an explosion while transporting goods, and the youngest child in the family cannot even start a household. It is tragic for the elderly to send off the young."

"Lu Yong's family travels by water, so it's not uncommon for them to encounter this kind of thing. Why do you think someone is plotting against them?"

"After Dalang was killed by the pirates, within three days, someone sent his head back home. If it were an ordinary bandit, they would just rob and kill people, why would they bother doing these things?"

"...Then it seems that the freight is also a bit strange."

"Yes, when we looked for the goods later, we couldn't find the owner. Erlang is very careful in his work, so how could he have missed the owner? Someone must have planned this."

"There is no way to check these two things, so Lu Yong's family can only suffer this loss in secret."

"Not only that, the golden boy and girl from Lu Qin's family in West City, the boy's brain was damaged by a disease, and the girl's throat was damaged by a fire two years ago, and they are also devastated. In Lu Ken, Daohua County, the boy who likes to study rice seeds was trampled by a startled horse while comparing them in the field. He vomited blood for half a day and is still bedridden now."

Shi Jun told them one by one, and found out that more than a dozen young people had suffered great disasters in recent years, with some suffering from death, injury, illness or disability.

"So no one is stepping forward?" Lu Ning asked.

"An Ning, these are all unsolved cases. If someone wants to investigate, they can investigate. But if someone doesn't want you to investigate, then you will never find out." Lu Qingxu said, "The Lu family has enjoyed a long period of wealth and prosperity, and the so-called young talents are proud of their large number and don't care how many of them are lost while they are adventuring."

"Don't care? Then how can we win everyone's hearts?"

"Because the Lu family does focus on those who are famous. Even when I was just starting out, I received some help from the family." Lu Qingxu said, "However, the help I provided to the family was far more than what I received."

"Young Master, the secret internal fighting has not harmed the elders yet, but now that you have brought An Ning back, it's different. An Ning is still young, and if she were to be noticed and people knew that she was the child you raised, she would inevitably encounter unexpected events." Shi Jun said with some concern.

"I remember you just told me that I didn't need to be so careful."

"You don't need to worry yet. Our family's status in the Lu family is enough even if you lose your official position. The second young master often comes here to check on the situation. The third and fourth young masters are also from the same clan as us and often help us. They also need our help."

"You are worried about An Ning... Although An Ning was taught by me, she is not the type to learn to read and write. Instead, she is good at martial arts. I am afraid that she does not meet the requirements of those people for young talents." Lu Qingxu said with disdain, "Although An Ning is good, I am afraid that those people cannot see that."

"However, before we can see the truth, Ah Ning needs to restrain her edge." Shi Jun said, "The fact that you brought back a child is enough to make many people secretly jealous. The main family will return to the old clan compound for the Spring Festival gathering. Young Master, now, another ten years have passed!"

"Father, this is considered..." Lu Ning looked at Lu Qingxu.

"As I said just now, if you are talented, you will get support from the clan. The support varies. Those who are appreciated on weekdays can get financial support such as money and books. And once every ten years during the Lu family's Spring Festival, a talent selection event will be held in the old courtyard. The main family and the branches will gather together to discuss the Lu family's talents in the past ten years. If you are selected, you will be given official connections, farmland, storefronts, or servants and bookboys, depending on your faction. It is different from ordinary rewards. The whole clan will support these people."

"My father back then..."

"Of course I didn't catch up and went out to be an official." Lu Qingxu snorted coldly, "Besides, I gambled, fought cocks, and had fun on the streets back then. I'm afraid I wouldn't be considered a talented person in the clan."

However, today, Lu Qingxu has become the highest-ranking official in the Lu family. It is really a pity. I wonder what kind of people have been chosen in the selection of talents over the years.

"A Ning, there is no need for you to get involved in that." Lu Qingxu looked at Lu Ning, "Although you have the support of the Lu family, you are also restricted by the Lu family. I know your nature. You definitely don't like being watched by others every day."

"Of course, since my father has returned home, I will leave in two days." Lu Ning said.

"What?" This time it was Shi Jun who was shocked, "Why did Ah Ning..."

"I will come back to reunite with my family during the Spring Festival. However, sending my father back is the purpose of my trip. After that, I want to go out on my own and don't need to be so cautious." Lu Ning said, "As my father said, I am not interested in the internal situation of the Lu family. After resting here for two days, I will leave."

"Aren't you going to Huai Lingyi Temple?" Lu Qingxu asked with a smile.

"I heard a lot from my father on the way, and I heard from Grandpa Shi today, so there's nothing else I want to know." Lu Ning said.

"Okay, Uncle Jun, please prepare some luggage for An Ning."

Lu Ning chose to set off two days later because she was preparing for a breakthrough.

After reaching the second level of the Senluo Nine Transformations Heart Technique, her progress has increased instead of slowed down. The effect of her "cold breathing" seems to be more in line with the operation of this heart method, and the time for a breakthrough may be within the next two days.

The first three levels of the Heart Technique are the minor success. The minor success is not difficult, but Lu Ning's speed is of course extraordinary. And after that, it is the middle three levels of the major success. At this point, the technique clearly states that hard work is required. Lu Ning is not going to hide and practice to perfection. She now really wants to see how the battle on the southern front is going.

Moreover, the collection and triggering of the scene's branch quests also required her to explore as many things as possible. Although Lu had some questions when she heard it, she could come back during the Spring Festival when she really "returned home in glory", or try to see if the events she encountered on the way were branch quests recognized by the distribution center.

"I understand." Shi Jun sighed, "A Ning, just tell me what you need."

Lu Qingxu nodded to Lu Ning, and Lu Ning followed Shi Jun out to prepare their travel items.