Chapter 1, The Matriarch's Summons
The emerald snake slid down the bamboo pole and came before Lu Zhen, opening its delicate little mouth and hissing as it flicked its tongue.
In the depths of winter, Lu Zhen stripped off all his clothes, grabbed a bucket, drew a bucket of water from the well, and poured it over himself headfirst.
Lu Zhen patted the head of the green snake and turned to walk towards the backyard
The alligator turtle opened its large mouth, swallowing two pieces of lean meat, each the size of a fist, with a single bite. It gently nodded at Lu Chen, then retracted its head and limbs back into its shell, quietly resting on the ice surface
At the westernmost end of Yulu Hutong, adjacent to the Anlefang No. 1 Canal Dock, there is a small courtyard
Those who can establish a foundation in Anlefang are mostly the wealthy and powerful families adorned in red doors and purple robes
In the depths of winter, the puddle, over three feet deep, has already frozen into blocks of ice
The rabbit cat pressed a paw down on a piece of chicken breast, its eyes tilting slightly towards Lu Chen's back, and it let out a puff of cold air from its nostrils
Having avoided yesterday, can you avoid today? Ha!
In my daily life within the clan, I am an inconspicuous person, ordinary and unremarkable.
You are all masters
Sir, please eat first. If it is not enough later, feel free to call for me again!
Covering nearly 1,000 acres, to the north of the grand Tian'en Marquis Mansion lies the Rain Dew Alley of the Marquis Mansion's back street
Before possessing sufficient self-protection capabilities, I, Lu Zhen, vow to be kind to others, to maintain a prudent distance from danger, to be tolerant in the face of adversity, and to remain low-key and humble. Unless pushed to the limit, I will endure time and again
Lu Zhen crouched beside the puddle and took out two pieces of fresh lean pork
The weather is cold and the ground is frozen; the canal has already been sealed with ice
The biting cold wind howled as it swept through the streets and alleys of Gaojing, swirling out petals of plum blossoms from the gardens of affluent families by the roadside, mingling with the falling snowflakes, fluttering across courtyards and rooftops.
Still, the big yellow is honest
Should we break all three legs together
Lu Zhen hurriedly took out two pieces of chicken breast and two fresh eggs and placed them in front of the rabbit cat
Ding ding ding
Lu Zhen smiled obsequiously at the rabbit cat, reached out and vigorously stroked its body twice, then scratched its chin. With a cheerful demeanor, he took small, quick steps, and amidst the rabbit cat's impatient "ha ha" sounds of dismissal, he swiftly ran towards the southern part of the courtyard
The macaw cast a sidelong glance at Lu Zhen, shook its feathers, lowered its head, and leisurely began to nibble on the dried fruit
The parrot suddenly opened its mouth, screaming hysterically at the top of its lungs
In the hissing sound of the sled gliding over the icy surface, Lu Xian, with her long, glossy black hair tied in a single ponytail and wrapped in a thin blue cloth front-opening cotton coat, opened the door of the main room on the north side of the small courtyard and took a deep breath of the biting cold air
Your mother has exploded
You are making things difficult for me without reason, what is the reason for this
Go, go, rest well
The large yellow dog walked up to the frizzy-haired rabbit and placed a paw on the rabbit's head
Lu Zhen pulled out two fresh eggs from his sleeve. The emerald snake lunged forward with the speed of lightning, swallowing the two eggs whole. It swayed its body, gently rubbing against Lu Zhen's palm, appearing particularly affectionate
I will not disturb you while you are dining, please enjoy your meal at your leisure
Opening his eyes and exhaling a breath of warm air with effort, Lu Chen moved his arms and legs, then raised his head to look at the sky filled with dark clouds
Lu Zhan had just finished his porridge. He grabbed the iron basin of the big yellow dog and walked towards the well in the corner of the yard, kicking the rabbit cat on its rear end along the way: "You cowardly dog!"
The Great Yin Dynasty, the eighteenth year of the Jiayou era
a quarter of an hour later
The large yellow dog finished the meat porridge in the iron basin, shook its fur, stood up, and barked a few times at the large parrot in the birdcage.
Your mother has exploded
You have become smarter. Yesterday, the clan's gathering at m.hetushu.com was postponed to tonight due to your mention of feeling unwell.
In its meat porridge, there were also a few eggs nestled within, the aroma of meat, eggs, and rice mingling together, creating a fragrance that wafted enticingly, truly making one's mouth water
Anlefang, many noble individuals
Lu Zhen hissed a few times, and from the dense bamboo leaves covered in snow, a small snake, about the thickness of a thumb and over three feet long, gracefully coiled down the bamboo pole.
Your mother was blown to pieces
Under the eaves of the storage room in the due south, there hangs a large birdcage forged entirely from stainless steel
Hearing the footsteps of Lu Zhen, the alligator turtle stretched out its long neck, emitting a "gugu" sound, its yellow bean-sized eyes darting around, appearing particularly lively, and even somewhat cunning.
The rabbit, having eaten and drunk its fill, shook its plump body as it emerged from its den, circling around the small courtyard with an air of self-satisfaction, resembling a wealthy landlord surveying his own land.
Lu Zhen pushed aside the door bolt and opened the courtyard gate, a gust of cold wind blew directly at him
In the sixteenth year of the Jiayou era, after the teacher appreciation banquet, I fell down the stairs and fractured my right calf.
Lu Zhen reached out and touched the rugged and prickly shell of the alligator turtle, then stood up and walked towards the west side of the courtyard
Hurry up, madam is calling you
Amidst a dense cluster of bamboo leaves, a green snake stealthily pokes its head out, peering this way.
A large yellow dog, standing on the ground with its head and neck nearly at waist height, measures close to seven feet from head to tail. Its body is robust and well-fed, with a shiny coat that glistens. The dog is carrying a massive iron basin in its mouth and is leisurely striding out from the main house.
After splashing seven or eight buckets of water, Lu Zhen, feeling the heat rising all over his body, dipped his finger in some coarse salt and vigorously brushed his teeth
After a series of sounds, a faint column of smoke wafted out from the kitchen chimney. Before long, a rich aroma of meat porridge began to drift through the small courtyard
whispering
If you angered Madam and the library, this year will be difficult for you Be careful with your skin
Who is it this early in the morning
A chill entered his abdomen, and a refreshing coolness enveloped his entire body. On Lu Zhen's resolute and upright face, a hint of a warm smile appeared
Behind the five main rooms on the north side of Lu Zhen's courtyard, there is a piece of land about half an acre in size, where common vegetables and fruits are usually grown, but now it is thickly covered with snow
The macaw lowered its flag and ceased its noise, retracting its head back into the birdcage
A completely white, round and plump rabbit cat (a member of the feline family, fierce) was lazily lying in its den. Upon seeing Lu Zhen approach, this creature widened its blue, eerie eyes and rudely let out two "ha, ha" growls.
Lu Zhen sighed, clapped his hands, and walked into the kitchen next to the storage room
In such a cold winter, ordinary snakes have long since hibernated and become frozen, yet this emerald snake is quite lively and spirited
On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, in the capital city of Gaogong, heavy snow fell
To the east of Min'an Fang, separated by an artificial canal several li wide, lies the second-grade Shangfang Anle Fang
In the corner of the east wing, there is a small patch of emerald bamboo. Despite the harsh winter and heavy snow, this small patch of bamboo remains lush and vibrant.
In the west side of the yard, in the corner of the west wing, a small shelter has been built
Someone knocked heavily on the courtyard gate, and a harsh, duck-like voice came through: "Er Ge'er, Er Ge'er? Hurry up, the lady is calling for you. Quickly, quickly, you must not keep the lady waiting!"
Under the premise of ensuring one's own safety, after possessing sufficient self-protection capabilities, strive to achieve a double harvest in career and love, enjoy life to the fullest, and live freely and happily, with a tentative small goal—first, to live for a thousand years
In the fifteenth year of the Jiayou era, after the teacher's banquet, I slipped and fell while intoxicated, resulting in a fracture of my left calf.
Lu Zhen hurried to the birdcage and took out a large handful of nuts, tossing them into the food tray of the cage
Having arrived at the well, Lu Zhen paused while holding the bucket, about to drop it into the well to draw water. He set the bucket down, shook off the snowflakes clinging to his hands, and quickly ran to the gate of the courtyard.
The large yellow dog lay on the ground, calmly licking the meat porridge from the iron bowl
"Brother, I must tell you, the lady has been quite irritable these past few days. You must not go against her; whatever the matter, just comply and follow her wishes"
As dawn broke, a team of sleds, pulled by robust and well-fed sled dogs, transported a mountain of firewood, salt, rice, flour, and other daily necessities, darting across the ice surface of the canal that spanned several miles.
There is no hatred without reason
Isn't it a bit too cruel? It's not like there is any deep-seated hatred; it's just that they are deliberately making things difficult for me, giving me four topics over the course of four years that are impossible to solve, cannot be solved, or would only bring trouble and disaster if attempted!
Counting on his fingers, Lu Zhen murmured to himself
Lu Zhen faced the cold wind, stretching his body vigorously and letting out a contented yawn. Only then did he put his clothes back on and stride towards the eastern side of the courtyard
"Girl, give me a smile!"
"Each of you, did I owe you something in my past life?"
Ah, a timely snow heralds a bountiful year
What grievances do we have against each other?
A parrot, entirely bright red with no trace of any other color, measuring about one foot in length and with a tail feather length exceeding one and a half feet, stood in its cage, tilting its head as it watched Lu Zhen, who was jogging over.
Southeast of the Imperial City of Gaogong lies Min'an Fang, one of the four major districts known for favorable weather, abundant rainfall, national prosperity, and civil tranquility.
Ah, they have arrived, they have arrived
The entire back street stretches nearly 3 miles, with neatly arranged courtyards lining both the north and south sides of the street, inhabited by the various branches of the Lu family from the Tian'en Marquisate of Jingyang.
In the northern part of the backyard, Lu Zhen dug a square water pit measuring one zhang on each side
Shall we, this year, break all three legs?
This small snake is entirely emerald green, with scales that are as clear and translucent as jewels. It lacks the sinister and fierce appearance typical of most snakes, instead exuding a certain charming and spirited quality.
After brushing my teeth, the water on my body has been almost completely evaporated by my body temperature along with the books
The macaw, having also filled itself with dried fruits, raised its short feathers all over its body and squeezed its head through the gaps in the birdcage bars, provoking the rabbit that was circling around to digest its meal
Lu Zhen smiled, gesturing with her fingers.
A middle-aged man, dressed in a rabbit fur coat, with triangular eyes and a triangular face, possessing a rather sharp and acerbic appearance, grabbed Lu Chen's arm and dragged him outside
He closed his eyes, opened his arms, and murmured with complete concentration
Lu Zhen pointed to the clump of bamboo in the east, gestured towards the water pit in the north and the shed in the west, then reached into the birdcage and poked the plump belly of the parrot vigorously
In a low murmur, Lu Zhen walked to the well in the small courtyard
A turtle the size of a grinding wheel, entirely black, lazily sprawled on the ice
"Yesterday of last year, after the end-of-year teacher appreciation banquet of the clan school, I fell and did a split in the restroom, fracturing my left thigh. Tsk, yet you still show no remorse."
"Alas, no, no, that is incorrect. It should be, I originally intended to direct my heart towards the bright moon, yet the bright moon shines upon the gutter instead"
Lu Zhuang held a large white porcelain bowl, squatting beside the big yellow dog, drinking the meat porridge in small sips without using chopsticks or a spoon
With just a few sounds of 'ding ding', the paws of the rabbit cat have sparked a few small sparks on the birdcage
The rabbit-like creature, covered in long fur, burst forth like a spherical lightning bolt, dashing towards its target. It suddenly leaped several feet high, with one paw gripping the birdcage.
In recent years, the most famous and extravagant figure in the Anlefang is undoubtedly the Marquis Tian'en, Lu Tai, whose name can also be interpreted as 'great' and 'sunlight'.
The large yellow dog, carrying a metal bowl, leisurely walked through the small courtyard and quietly squatted at the kitchen door
The originally fierce and menacing rabbit cat had completely lost its ferocity, its fur lying flat against its body in soft strands, meowing as it rubbed its head against the leg of the big yellow dog.
The large yellow dog widened its eyes, looking at Lu Zhen in shock, its mouth drooping down, displaying a hurt expression.