Lu Tian
Reborn: Catching the Ice-Cold Campus Belle Shoplifting
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Lu Tian (陆天) |
| Alias(es) | Old Lu 62 |
| Gender | Male |
| Age Group | Middle-aged 6 |
| Affiliation | Lu family; Four Seasons Fresh Supermarket 23 48 |
| Occupation/Role | Supermarket owner; father of Lu Yuanqiu and Lu Yidong 6 24 52 |
| Spouse | Su Xiaoya 6 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 6 |
Background
Lu Tian is the youngest of four brothers. His eldest brothers, Lu Cheng and Lu Xuan, are executives at a listed company, while his third brother, Lu Yuan, holds a government position. Lu Tian runs the Four Seasons Fresh Supermarket, one of the larger fresh-food supermarkets in the Wangjiang Road area 23 48 72 74.
His brothers entrust him with ensuring that Lu Yuanqiu earns at least an honestly obtained bachelor's degree. His son's persistently poor grades make this a source of pressure at family gatherings. Lu Tian himself was no outstanding student: he boasts about scoring thirty-seven out of one hundred, privately admitting that Su Xiaoya's encouragement helped him achieve even that 16 48.
Appearance
- Middle-aged: Introduced sitting at the family table with a stern expression 6.
- Resemblance to Wei Xiang: Lu Yuanqiu thinks he resembles a younger Wei Xiang, particularly when wearing a mocking smile. The narration also calls him “Budget Wei Xiang” 16 24 52.
Personality
Lu Tian is blunt, hot-tempered, and quick to mock his son's academic ambitions. He frequently chases or threatens Lu Yuanqiu with a clothes hanger, while their arguments include insults and exaggerated boasts about his own academic ability. The household generally divides discipline between the parents: Lu Tian handles Lu Yuanqiu, while Su Xiaoya handles Lu Yidong 6 16 26.
His harsh manner contrasts with his quieter acts of care. Although he dismisses Lu Yuanqiu's sports medals aloud, he puts them into his leather bag. He also recognizes that his son is kindhearted and has a strong sense of justice despite his reputation as a troublemaker 48.
Lu Tian values Bai Qingxia's character more than her family background. He initially makes mistaken assumptions about her circumstances and attitude toward money, but regrets his judgment when her actions prove him wrong. Within his own family, his assertiveness gives way to caution around an angry Su Xiaoya and outright fear of his third brother, Lu Yuan 48 59 67 73.
Story Role / Major Arcs
Hiring Bai Qingxia
When Auntie Liu leaves the supermarket to care for her newborn grandson, Lu Tian agrees to interview a classmate recommended by Lu Yuanqiu. On meeting Bai Qingxia, however, he assumes that such a well-presented girl cannot be short of money and suspects his son has tricked her into working 16 23.
Father and son eventually negotiate a condition: Bai Qingxia can work at the supermarket if Lu Yuanqiu reaches the top thirty-five in his class. Lu Tian subsequently finds her kneeling between the shelves to clean up urine left by a child. Her conscientiousness moves him, though he continues to repeat the academic condition 24.
By the sports meet, his threats to dismiss her are only a means of motivating his son. He privately admits that he never intended to let her go after witnessing her work on her first day 48.
Birthday Celebration and Growing Affection
Lu Tian notices Bai Qingxia's September nineteenth birthday on her identification and encourages Lu Yuanqiu to buy her a present. He then helps arrange her seventeenth-birthday surprise, closing the supermarket early despite sacrificing several thousand yuan in sales and paying for a deluxe two-tier fruit cake 33 34 35.
After seeing how strongly Bai Qingxia motivates Lu Yuanqiu to study, he begins hoping she will become his daughter-in-law. He does not consider her family's wealth or connections important, believing his brothers already provide ample support for his son's future 48.
Reconsidering Bai Qingxia's Circumstances
Lu Tian initially thinks Bai Qingxia places too much importance on money when she comes to sell recyclables during the monthly exams. She leaves him the full 21 yuan and 40 cents, explaining that she had promised the elderly scrap dealer she would come and could not accept the proceeds. Ashamed of misjudging her, he proposes inviting her on the family's National Day outing 59.
His concern grows after Su Xiaoya learns more about Bai Qingxia's hardship. During a family meeting, he discovers that her mother has died. The same meeting brings happier news: Lu Yuanqiu has ranked thirty-second in class, prompting Lu Tian to telephone all three brothers to announce the improvement 67 68.
Lu Yuanqiu's Hospitalization
After Lu Yuanqiu is attacked, Lu Tian is made to face the hospital wall while his older brothers reprimand him for failing to protect his son. Lu Yuan later kicks and scolds him, despite Lu Tian protesting that he could not have anticipated the assault 71 72 74.
At Lu Yuanqiu's request, he finds Bai Songzhe waiting in the hallway, bloodied and frightened. Lu Tian patiently reassures him that the “little monk” is awake and brings him into the ward. He later arranges for Bai Songzhe and Bai Qingxia to stay overnight rather than make the long journey home 72 78.
Family Outing and Support for the Bai Family
| Event | Lu Tian's involvement |
|---|---|
| Thank-you visit | Advises Lu Yuanqiu to bring inexpensive gifts to the Bai home, knowing that extravagant presents would make Bai Qingxia reluctant to accept them 81. |
| National Day outing | Drives the family with Bai Qingxia and joins Lu Yuanqiu on the carousel's warhorses 86 87 88. |
| Collecting recyclables | Sells the collected bottles with Lu Yuanqiu; the five family-outing participants then eat ice pops bought with the proceeds 90. |
| Considering treatment for Bai Songzhe | Discusses finding a doctor with Su Xiaoya. Lu Yuanqiu instead proposes helping Bai Songzhe gain independence through simple supermarket work, allowing Bai Qingxia greater freedom to pursue university 100. |
| Halloween preparations | Orders candy for the supermarket's annual giveaway and repeatedly fills Bai Songzhe's pocket, laughing as he transfers it into his daughter's pocket 111. |
| Delivery errand | Sends Bai Qingxia to deliver cigarettes to Liu's Barbecue Shop; she is knocked down by someone running around a corner while on the errand 123. |
Relationships
- Lu Yuanqiu — Son. Their relationship is marked by arguments, teasing, and discipline over schoolwork. Lu Tian uses Bai Qingxia's employment to encourage his studies and excitedly reports his improved ranking to the family 6 24 68.
- Su Xiaoya — Wife. She challenges his treatment of both Lu Yuanqiu and Bai Qingxia; he becomes notably cautious when she is genuinely angry 6 67.
- Lu Yidong — Daughter. He treats her more gently than her brother, including buying separate portions of breakfast and making Lu Yuanqiu give her share back 52.
- Lu Cheng — Eldest brother. Helps oversee Lu Yuanqiu's education and joins in holding Lu Tian responsible after the hospital incident 48 72.
- Lu Xuan — Second brother. Directs much of his temper at Lu Tian and orders him to continue facing the hospital wall even after Lu Yuanqiu wakes 72.
- Lu Yuan — Third brother, whom Lu Tian fears most. Reprimands him for failing to keep Lu Yuanqiu safe 73 74.
- Bai Qingxia — Employee and hoped-for future daughter-in-law. Her diligence wins his lasting approval, and he increasingly includes her in family celebrations and outings 24 35 48 59.
- Bai Songzhe — Bai Qingxia's father and Lu Yuanqiu's rescuer. Lu Tian treats him patiently at the hospital and later considers ways to help him recover or become more independent 72 78 100.