Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 67: Family Matters

That year, when Chang’sheng left the village for Black Mountain Prefecture, his mother missed him day and night. Her health got worse by the day. Thankfully, Mr. Lu, Haozi, and Heitu were there.

At least there was still something to rely on in her heart, so things gradually began to settle down.

But right at that time, some of the group of children who had left returned to the village.

Soon after, terrible news spread through the village—many of those who left had died.

Some people hurried over upon hearing the news to ask questions.

Among those who came back was Zhao Liang from the Zhao Family. He didn’t know what had happened to Chang’sheng and the others, but figured that if his own group couldn’t survive, there was no way Chang’sheng and his friends would have made it. So, he told everyone they were all dead.

Mrs. Lu fainted on the spot.

Not long after returning home, when the two had prepared everything, they left with a trade caravan heading for Black Mountain Prefecture. Unfortunately, they ran into a "mountain howl" along the way.

A "mountain howl" is a mudslide; to the country folk, it’s the fury of the mountain.

The road was blocked, and the two elders had no choice but to turn back.

"The drought wasn’t over then, how did they dare go to Black Mountain Prefecture?" Chang’sheng was deeply moved, but still couldn’t help blaming them a little.

"Father and Mother said, after all, you’re their son—even if you were dead, they had to see for themselves!"

Haozi said.

A tremor passed through Chang’sheng’s heart.

The family must have been in a terrible state at the time. Even so, his parents threw caution to the wind and set out after him.

"Actually, things were bad back home too. We were running out of food, and Mother kept thinking that she was getting old and only wasting rations at home. So, she decided to go to Black Mountain Prefecture to find you. Father didn’t say anything, but he was worried about her, so he quietly followed. They didn’t even meet until they got to the market town!"

Haozi smiled faintly.

As a child, seeing his parents care for each other brought him a lot of joy.

He was the eldest now, had to take care of Heitu, and had to carry on the Lu Family line; so, all he could do was watch his parents set off for Black Mountain Prefecture.

"I’ve let you all down!" Chang’sheng said in a low voice.

After becoming Child Scholar, although it was hard to return, it wasn’t impossible. Still, by then the worst of the drought had passed, so he held himself back, not realizing his parents would risk so much for him.

"I’m sure you had your reasons. The world’s a mess now, with wars everywhere. If you’re not sure, best not to take chances!"

Haozi said.

Compared to five years ago, he seemed much more mature now—just thinner, and his skin was darker.

"Don’t worry, I’ll take care of things at home from now on!"

Haozi blurted out, "No way. I’m still the eldest, this is my family!"

Chang’sheng smiled, feeling unbelievably fortunate to have been born into a family like this. Even if it’s rough, it’s worth it.

Halfway there, he pulled Haozi along and went to the cart to move the goods. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Seeing the whole cartload of things, Haozi didn’t know what to do with himself. He kept wiping his hands on his clothes, as if they were too dirty to touch anything.

Chang’sheng handed him two bags of fine cloth, shoving them into his arms, then tossed over a big sack of food.

Haozi scrambled to catch everything—otherwise, it would’ve all dropped to the ground.

The ground was all dusty; that would’ve been way dirtier than his hands.

"Grab some more, otherwise you’ll just have to come back for the rest later!"

"Okay... okay..." Haozi nodded again and again, his voice trembling.

This much stuff—how much did it all cost?

"Need a hand?" Zhao Hu jumped down from the cart.

Seeing the burly Zhao Hu with a knife at his side, Haozi couldn’t help looking a little scared.

After these years, Zhao Hu had been devoted to training in martial arts. Though he was still some ways from the Immovable Stake Entry, he was much bulkier than before. He often fought with people, so he had a fierce air about him.

A country bumpkin like Haozi wouldn’t dare face someone like that.

"Ha! You’re the eldest son of Lu, right?" Zhao Hu called out to Haozi.

Seeing Haozi’s bewildered face, Zhao Hu explained, "I’m Zhao Hu, from Zhong Village. I knew your father back in the day."

"Uncle Zhao!"

Haozi called out quickly.

Just then, Wang Heihou, Niu Dazhuang, and Li Nangua came over from the edge of the village and started unloading supplies.

Chang’sheng greeted them briefly, then headed home with Haozi and Zhao Hu.

Soon, they reached the yard that lived in his memory. Chang’sheng thought he’d prepared himself, but the moment he truly arrived, his heart couldn’t help but pound wildly.

Haozi walked up to the door, pushed it open, and stepped in. Glancing back, he saw Chang’sheng hesitating a few feet away.

"Come on in!"

With that, he called back into the house, "Mother, look who’s here!"

In the yard, a gray-haired woman was sitting in a chair, mending clothes. Hearing Haozi’s voice, she didn’t even look up, just chided, "Weren’t you about to go out and work? Why are you back already? You can’t get lazy, or Xiaocao will never want you!"

Haozi scratched the back of his head, embarrassed and afraid Chang’sheng would laugh at him. He glanced back and saw Chang’sheng standing at the door, staring blankly at the woman in the yard.

She looked older now, her back hunched, white hair messy and dry. The chair was a little low, making her seem like a pitiful soul huddled in shadow.

At their largest, the Lu Family had nine members living under one roof. In times like these, it’s hard enough to raise even one child.

Chang’sheng even remembered that he’d had an older brother, but as long as he could remember, that brother caught a chill and died young.

Originally, Lu Haozi wasn’t the eldest—it was only after the real eldest kept dying that it became his turn.

"Mother!"

The woman mending clothes finally came to herself, a hint of confusion on her face.

The voice sounded familiar, yet also strange.

She looked back, and when she saw the young man standing at the door, her clouded eyes instantly welled up with tears, which spilled down like broken threads.

"Erdan?"

"It’s me, Erdan!"

Chang’sheng’s eyes grew wet as well. He walked quickly to his mother and hugged her tightly.

"As long as you’re home, as long as you’re back—the future, Mother won’t let you go so far again!"

"Alright... Erdan won’t go so far again," Chang’sheng replied softly.

His mother cried and murmured as she held Chang’sheng, telling him about the family’s goings on over the years. As she spoke, she fell asleep in his arms.

Chang’sheng carried her inside, laid her on the bed, and covered her with a quilt before stepping back out.

"Sorry to let you see all that, Uncle Zhao."

He looked at Zhao Hu and rubbed his slightly red eyes.

Zhao Hu shook his head, "That was good. Now that I’m back, I should get my own family affairs in order too."

"When the time comes, I’ll go with you."

"Thanks a lot, Chang’sheng!"

Zhao Hu had come to see Chang’sheng’s father, so he sat in the courtyard to wait.

"Big Brother, where are Father and Heitu?" Chang’sheng asked.

"Father’s probably over in South Village."

South Village?

Chang’sheng’s gaze grew a bit odd, and then Haozi finally got a little embarrassed and explained.

After the drought ended, the family gradually started breathing again. As much as Mr. Lu didn’t want to believe what Zhao Liang and the others said, reason told him his youngest son, Erdan, was probably gone for good. Now, with only one son left, if anything happened, the Lu Family line would end here.

So, whenever he had time, he started looking for a matchmaker to set up introductions for Haozi.

Unfortunately, the family wasn’t in the shape it had been when Chang’sheng was home, so even after looking at several hard-working, fertile girls, nothing worked out.

After all, who wouldn’t want their daughter to marry into a family with better prospects?

There were a couple of girls who were willing—but only on the condition that Heitu be sold to some wealthy family. If that happened, then the marriage could go ahead.

Neither Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, nor Haozi himself would agree to that.

They believed that Heitu was someone Chang’sheng had risked his life to save; if they sold him, wouldn’t that make Chang’sheng’s sacrifice pointless?

It was only recently that a match was found. The girl was frail and sickly, and in a village like this, no one would want to marry her even if she came with a dowry.

"How do you feel about her, Big Brother? If you don’t want to go through with it, just say the word. I’ll set you up with someone from the city after a while," Chang’sheng said.

With his skills now, that was nothing. Some ordinary rich family could send a whole flock of women, all shapes and sizes, for his brother to pick from.

Haozi shook his head, "No, that’s not right. I know you’re capable now, but you can’t forget where you came from. Xiaocao may be weak, but she’s gentle and considerate. I really like her."

Seeing this, Chang’sheng didn’t try to talk him out of it.

As long as his brother was happy, everything else was a minor issue.

"Well then, when the time comes, I’ll make arrangements, so everyone knows what an honor it is to join the Lu Family—something so many people wish for and can never have!"

Chang’sheng smiled.