OFTLHFRO C10

Chapter 10 – All Because of the Moon’s Fault

Early the next morning, Huo Yan went to the village head’s house to reclaim the money spent on purchasing the burial plot. News of him being alive quickly spread throughout Xishui Village.

Yang Cuifen, whose heart had been completely numb with despair, overheard people talking about divine blessings while she was washing clothes by the river — that the Huo family’s eldest son had returned safe and sound.

Yang Cuifen was stunned. “You’re saying Huo Yan isn’t dead — he even came back?”

An older woman rolled her eyes. “What, you’re not happy about it?”

A younger woman beside her added, “We all saw him this morning. He went to the village head to handle some matters; lots of people know. Didn’t he go to your house to give word of his safety?”

“Previously, when word spread that the Huo family’s eldest had died, her man couldn’t wait to snatch up their house and even planned to sell those three brats to human traffickers. Why would anyone go to her house to deliver peace-of-mind news? I reckon they’re among the ones who wished Huo Yan dead in the first place.”

Yang Cuifen pursed her lips without retorting, gathering up her laundry and hurrying home.

Since Huo Yan was back, wouldn’t that fake in his house soon be thrown out?

Whether or not she stood to gain anything, as long as Luo Mingchen suffered, she’d be happy.

Once Luo Mingchen was chased out, Huo Yan would inevitably go out to work again; when that time came, wouldn’t those three little brats be left entirely at their mercy?

After returning home, Yang Cuifen eagerly told Lin Tianlei about this.

“What are you waiting for, then?”

Just as Lin Tianlei was about to stand, he suddenly remembered something. “That brat Huo Yan personally sought out the matchmaker for the proposal — how could he not recognize Wang Chen?”

“He’s been away for over a month and only met him twice. Even when Wang Chen’s parents came to see that kid, they couldn’t confirm if he was their son. Clearly, they look alike. What if he really was tricked? Huo Yan hates being deceived the most — if you expose that boy’s identity to his face, he’d be lucky not to beat him half to death. How could he possibly keep him around?”

Hearing this, Lin Tianlei found it reasonable. After all, they’d only met once or twice under the matchmaker’s guidance — how clearly could anyone remember?

Thus, the couple deliberately went to find Huo Yan.

After breakfast at home, Huo Yan heard Luo Mingchen say he wanted to take the three children to the academy in town — something they had agreed upon yesterday.

Huo Yan had no objections. “Alright, let’s go together.”

Harnessing the ox cart, Huo Yan drove it to the gate while Luo Mingchen placed a basket of fruits and vegetables on board, carrying Huo Xinyue in his arms as he waited for Huo Yuhui to lock up.

Once the main gate was locked, the group boarded the cart.

Compared to Luo Mingchen, Huo Yan was clearly more skilled at driving the ox.

With someone handling the cart, Luo Mingchen could sit comfortably and relax.

But upon seeing that annoying couple walking toward them, Luo Mingchen could already guess their purpose. With a meaningful look, he said, “Those two are here to tattle.”

Huo Yan glanced at him, then urged the cart forward.

“Hey! Huo Yan, where are you headed?”

Yang Cuifen quickly stepped in front of the ox cart.

Huo Yan merely said, “Busy.”

Yang Cuifen tried to grab his arm, but Huo Yan sidestepped without a word. Unfazed, she went straight to the point: “You just got back, so you probably haven’t heard yet — the one beside you isn’t Wang Chen from Wangjia Village. Who knows where that mongrel came from? He might even be a runaway convict slave—”

Before she could finish, Huo Yan coldly interrupted, “Cousin-sister, mind your words. Though Mingchen is not the Wang family’s son, he has already entered my family. Such talk must not be repeated. If Cousin-sister insists on speaking this way, then I shall also mention before the academy in the county how Cousin-brother’s family attempted to sell my three children — I wonder if Qingfeng will still be able to sit for next year’s imperial examination.”

Yang Cuifen was utterly shocked. “What kind of bewitching potion did he feed you?”

Lin Tianlei likewise found it incomprehensible. “You dare take in someone with such an unclear background?”

Huo Yan replied, “I know his background. There’s no need to explain it to outsiders.”

“Your brain must be clogged with lard!”

“If there’s nothing else, we’ll be on our way.”

With that, Huo Yan flicked the whip, steering the ox cart past them, leaving Lin Tianlei and Yang Cuifen to step aside.

Without him even needing to say a word, Luo Mingchen felt considerably relieved.

He looked at the back of Huo Yan’s head, and only once they’d left Xishui Village did he ask, “Aren’t you afraid I really am the convict slave they say I am?”

In this era, harboring a convict slave was a grave offense — at best, exile to the frontier; at worst, execution.

“There are no tattooed markings on your face or body, only a scar on your lower back that appears to have been made by a blade. Our dynasty never tattoos in that location. So, you are not a convict slave.”

Hearing this, Luo Mingchen’s lips twitched. “You sure looked carefully.”

Realizing what he said, Huo Yan pressed his lips together awkwardly and muttered, “The moonlight was bright.”

Huo Yuhui blinked; seeing Huo Xiang about to speak, he immediately pressed him down.

Meanwhile, in Luo Mingchen’s arms, Huo Xinyue shifted and curiously gazed at the scenery along the road.

Feeling the awkward tension of the topic, Luo Mingchen said, “With two kids enrolled in school, won’t they need someone to escort them, given how far it is?”

“They will, for now. By next spring, they can go on their own.”

Luo Mingchen assumed he meant that once Huo Yuhui was older, he wouldn’t need an escort anymore. Considering twelve wasn’t that young either, he didn’t argue — unaware that Huo Yan intended to teach the two children martial arts.

The last time they went to the county, they had merely passed through Taohua Town and hadn’t gone inside.

Unlike Yue Lan County, which required an entrance fee, Taohua Town was free. Though it only had three streets, it had all the necessary shops to meet daily needs.

The Baiye Academy sat at a relatively quiet corner of town, and even from a distance, one could hear the resounding voices of students reading aloud.

Hearing this, Huo Yuhui grew excited, his heart pounding wildly.

After knocking, the academy’s gatekeeper opened the door, looked them over, and asked, “What brings you here?”

Carrying the basket of fruits and vegetables, Huo Yan spoke, “We’d like to request entry for two children to study here. Could we trouble you to introduce us to the academy’s teacher?”

“How old are these two children?”

“The elder is eleven; the younger is eight.”

The gatekeeper nodded. “Alright, I’ll take you in. But the eight-year-old must be able to look after himself. Also, if he’s too noisy, the teacher won’t accept him.”

Luo Mingchen smiled, offering him a bright red apple. “Thank you, big brother. This is homegrown — I hope you won’t mind the humble gift.”

The fruit’s sweet fragrance was inviting.

Accepting the apple, the gatekeeper reminded, “The teacher dislikes children who cling too much to their parents — and he also dislikes receiving gifts. These fruits are fine, but if you’ve prepared silver or money inside, best take it out now so you don’t spoil his impression.”

Luo Mingchen, who had slipped a red packet into the basket earlier, chuckled and thanked him again.

Following him inside, Luo Mingchen quietly tucked the red packet away.

Strange — he’d always seen parents bribing teachers in the past; even regular restaurant patrons often said ‘you can never go wrong with more gifts.’

But perhaps, some habits were better left unlearned…