Chapter 9: Sold to the Xu Family

"Did you visit the City God Temple today?"

"I did. I recognize you, Master County Bailiff. You were there as well."

"It really was you? And your elder brother? What about the man in white carrying the bamboo pole—are they still in Little Creek Town?"

The county bailiff was somewhat shocked; he remembered everything that had happened at the temple that morning. Especially the young man seized by the shadow—if the man in white hadn’t intervened, everyone in the temple would surely have died.

And now, that boy’s younger brother had come to seek an audience with Master Xu outside the Bamboo Dream Pavilion. The whole affair struck him as most peculiar.

"My brother left with that man. They've gone to Chang’an."

Lu Xin said no more, his expression deeply sorrowful. The bailiff, seeing this, frowned and pondered for a moment, but refrained from pressing further. Having learned Lu Xin’s purpose, he promised to help him gain entry.

Unexpectedly, the bailiff returned swiftly, accompanied by Xu Sanjin and the county magistrate—a lean man, not yet forty, with small eyes sharp as blades.

Lu Xin recognized Xu Sanjin, and upon seeing him, knelt at once.

"I heard from Bailiff He that you wish me to pay for your grandfather’s funeral?"

Lu Xin nodded resolutely, his manner far bolder than any nine-year-old child. Xu Sanjin and the magistrate exchanged a glance and descended from their perch.

"Helping the poor is virtuous, but arranging a funeral for someone unrelated is unlucky. On what grounds do you think I’d help you?"

"I heard others say that Master Xu traveled hundreds of miles to the City God Temple to pray for his mother’s blessing. You are a devoted son—surely you understand my feelings."

"Hahaha, well put! Indeed, the Xu family has been governed by filial piety since the Han dynasty, lasting unbroken to the flourishing Tang. That is the power of filial devotion. I can help you, but you must pay a price."

"A life for a life, a debt for a debt! Though I am young, I will not accept charity. If Master Xu allows me to see my grandfather off, I will agree to anything."

Lu Xin did not even ask what Xu Sanjin’s terms might be. As soon as he finished speaking, he knocked his head to the ground three times, then stood up. The adults were all stunned; Lu Xin’s gesture gave Xu Sanjin no chance to go back on his word. Such a salute was reserved for parents—a gesture that, whomever received it, was as if they had granted him new life.

"This child appears ragged, but every word is fierce and resolute. His actions are wise and decisive. An excellent seedling, indeed. Master Xu, you have my congratulations."

"Ha ha ha ha, so you know the phrase ‘charity food.’ You've even read the Book of Rites—hardly a common country boy. Very well, I accept your grandfather’s case. Not only will I pay for his burial, but I shall grant him a splendid funeral. In exchange, I will buy ten years of your service. You must serve as a slave in my household for a decade—do you accept?"

Seven days later, Lu Xin sat in the carriage of the Xu family’s servants, traveling day and night toward Shanyin County. His grandfather had been laid to rest, not only in the finest coffin but in a grandly built grave. Master Xu had summoned the entire temple’s monks to chant and pray for the old man; Lu Xin’s wish was fulfilled.

Perhaps it was fate, but in his loneliest, darkest hour, Heaven opened a window for him. Though he now belonged to another as a servant, it was his own choice—the best he could make. The road ahead was unknown; Lu Xin, so young, could not imagine what the future might hold. In this world, simply surviving was already a great feat.

Along the journey, Lu Xin recalled his time living in Grandpa Tu’s house: three people, a single table and pot, a leaking mud hut, two battered wooden beds. Life was simple and poor, but he felt true kinship there. In modern life, though he never lacked food or clothing and could get whatever he wished, his grandfather was always busy with work, his parents abroad year after year. From childhood, Lu Xin had always been alone. Everyone knew him as willful and unruly, but none understood the loneliness deep in his heart.

"Brother Tingfang, do you know? Grandpa Tu is dead, and now I’m on my way to Yuezhou—the city you always wanted to visit. The monk who chanted for Grandpa Tu said it was karma, my fate. I don't want to believe in fate. If Heaven truly controls everything, I despise its lofty indifference. But it’s alright; I’ve grown up, and I can take care of myself now. I locked Grandpa Tu’s house, carved words on the door. When you come looking for me, it will tell you where I have gone. Brother Tingfang, I miss you so much. You’ll come back, won’t you?"

The carriage window was very small, and Lu Xin sat in the corner, seeing only a sliver of light—the color of the sky, simple and eternal. Ancient roads were not paved; most were mountain paths or muddy trails, making the carriage jolt terribly. It was Lu Xin’s first ride, and within half an hour his backside hurt terribly, but he made not a sound, for he was now a servant of the Xu household. The looks cast at him were strange, and never kind. Lu Xin knew the days ahead would not be easy. He could not shrink back, nor show fear, for no one would pity him.

"Their gazes are certainly unfriendly. Luckily I’ve watched palace dramas. Don’t be fooled by my age—if they bully me, I’ll fight them to the end!"

The carriage was stifling, and after a while, Lu Xin’s heart grew hard. Yet, the journey was long, and everyone was tired; no one troubled the newcomer.

When night fell, the Xu household entourage had already left Little Creek Town far behind. All around were endless forests, wild and cold, with nightingales crying and darkness thick. The caravan stopped abruptly; the guard driving opened the curtain and said Master Xu had ordered everyone to rest here.

Lu Xin had recently eaten dry rations and was not hungry; he planned to nap in the carriage. Just as he closed his eyes, someone slapped him awake. The blow was heavy, stinging his shoulder.

"What are you doing?"

"What am I doing? Newcomer, don’t think your age will earn you any favors. Let me tell you, I entered the Xu household at five—there’s no hardship I haven’t suffered. All these years, I’ve learned one lesson: to survive, you must be keenly aware of others’ moods."

"Moods? Whose moods?"

Lu Xin was annoyed—he was exhausted and only wanted to sleep.

"Heh, another foolhardy one. Boy, let me teach you what the Xu household’s rules are."

The speaker was a young man, sharp-faced and vicious, just over twenty. He raised his hand to strike, but Lu Xin was not afraid; he resolved to bite hard when the hand landed, to see if his teeth were stronger than the man’s hand. Yet the youth was stopped by a dark-skinned boy.

"Li, he’s new and young—don’t get angry. Leave it to me. Within three days, I’ll have him properly trained. Such trivial matters, we can handle ourselves."

"Hmph! You always talk sense. Fine, I’ll spare him this time for your sake. Make him fetch two buckets of water—the master and young miss need to wash, and Old Liu must start the cooking fire. No one is to help him; let him do it alone. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being harsh."

The young man called "Li" finished speaking and left the carriage with a cold snort. Lu Xin sneered in the corner, and the boy quickly covered his mouth.

"Don’t make a sound. That’s Feng Li, a top-tier servant here—he holds great power, and we all have to obey him. If you offend him, it’ll be trouble. If I hadn’t stopped him, you might not even be able to speak now."

"I don’t care about top-tier or bottom-tier—we’re all servants. Why should they bully me?"

Lu Xin’s eyes widened; though his voice was muffled, his anger was clear. The boy sighed.

"If you want to die, I won’t stop you. This world has never been fair. I was sold here at nine, and now it’s been seven years—I haven’t seen my family since. No matter how hard or tiring, I want to survive. There are many in this world who can’t even eat. Being a servant here is not so bad—at least there’s hope. I imagine you still have family. Don’t you want to see them again?"

"I do. I want to see my brother, my father… my parents, my grandfather. Yes, I must live, only then can I see them."

After hearing the boy's words, Lu Xin finally stopped struggling. Through their conversation, he learned the boy’s name was Cao An, a lower-tier servant in the Xu household. In the Tang dynasty, great households kept many slaves. The Xu family, being a large clan, had strict rules and many people, with servants divided into four ranks: A, B, C, and D. According to Cao An, among hundreds of servants, he was at the lowest tier. The likes of Feng Li, top-tier servants, were trusted by the house stewards—best not to provoke them.

"Alright, time is short, so I’ll tell you only the basic rules. Find a place to fetch water—be quick, and don’t let Feng Li catch you slacking."

The carriage stood in a clearing amid the woods. The forest was vast, and at night, the moonlight was dim—no water source was visible. Lu Xin had to take a torch and two buckets and venture into the forest. He was frightened; springtime mountains were full of snakes and pests. If bitten, he’d be severely injured if not dead. But he had no choice; under the eaves, one must bow to circumstance.

"Damn Feng Li, you belong in a grave. One day, I’ll make you fetch water in the mountains at midnight—see how scared you are!"

Lu Xin muttered to himself for courage as he walked carefully. After ten minutes, the firelight behind him disappeared. Darkness surrounded him, even the starlight was blocked. In his ears, piercing cries echoed—whether bird calls or something else, he could not tell. Lu Xin’s legs grew weak, but he forced himself not to turn back. After two more minutes, the trees ahead thinned, and at last he heard the sound of running water.

Lu Xin quickened his pace; he had traversed the entire woods. Ahead lay a mountain stream, its water flowing like music. But Lu Xin stopped abruptly, not fetching water but staring fixedly across the ravine.

There, in the ghastly moonlight, lay a cluster of graves—silent and eerie. Lu Xin had not expected to find such a large burial ground in these wild mountains. But what truly terrified him was a mound some two hundred meters away, atop which sat a figure shrouded in blood-red light.