Lu Mingxi

Biodata

Background / History

Arrival in Su Yuhe’s Household

Lu Mingxi, Lu Mingyi, and Meng Zhixian entered Su Yuhe’s care with few possessions and no changes of clothing. In their earliest documented outing to Xubai’s estate, Su Yuhe reassured them that she was not selling them. Lanxin later returned all three to her home, leaving her to arrange their food and bedding 3 4.

Mingxi was initially unfamiliar with ordinary kitchen work, repeatedly wiping the stove while the others tried to help. Su Yuhe gave him the warmest sleeping position and lent him clothing. When Lu Mingyi worried about his younger brother sharing her quilt, Su Yuhe declined any nighttime service and simply went to sleep 4 5.

Adjusting to Rural Life

His early adjustment exposed the gap between his privileged upbringing and the household’s limited resources. He struggled with basic cooking tasks, used too much firewood, and wanted candied hawthorns despite their cost. Nevertheless, he began gathering grass and feeding the chickens, later rising before dawn to provide extra fodder for a newly acquired, underweight bird 6 7 8 20.

While gathering grass, he met Ruan Puchuan, who identified an edible wild vegetable for him. Mingxi invited him home to teach him to cook, accepting the offer despite Lu Mingyi’s reserve and Meng Zhixian’s criticism. Ruan demonstrated egg fried rice and subsequently taught the household other dishes 20 21 22 24.

Mingxi later visited Ruan’s home to invite him to cut grass. Liu Xiaobo frightened him by pinching his cheek and comparing its tenderness to pork. Mingxi fled home and recounted the encounter to Su Yuhe 23.

Questions About the Lu Family

When strangers began asking about the three men, Lu Mingyi considered whether former family retainers had come for the brothers. Mingxi privately wondered whether their father was looking for them. Mingyi rejected the suggestion and instructed him to regard their former life as belonging to a previous existence: they were now government slaves living in the countryside. Mingxi did not understand the reasoning but agreed to remain silent 42.

Growing Concern About Money

On a later trip to town, Mingxi carried Su Yuhe’s four stationery boxes without being asked and questioned the price difference between two colors of cloth. Although he still wanted candied hawthorns, he protested when she bought him a skewer, pointing out that the money could have purchased several cabbages 43.

Two women subsequently approached him on behalf of their young master, inviting him to listen to storytelling. Mingxi initially refused, but became interested when they offered wages for keeping the young master company. Su Yuhe stopped the discussion and insisted that he go home with her 44.

After returning from town, his normally lively manner became unusually distracted. When Meng Zhixian complained that his long bath had delayed everyone else, Mingxi apologized and readily agreed to bathe last in future 45.

Work at Xubai’s Estate

Su Yuhe later arranged jobs for Mingxi, Lu Mingyi, and Meng Zhixian at Xubai’s farm estate. They reluctantly accepted her arrangements. She accompanied them there the next morning and specifically asked that Mingxi be spared strenuous work 50.

Appearance

Lu Mingxi resembles Lu Mingyi, sharing his handsome, cool, aristocratic features, but his youthful expression makes him more approachable 11.

• Face: Retains baby fat in his cheeks 5 11.
• Eyes: Large, clear, and described as doe-like; his eyes curve into crescents when pleased 5 21.
• Build: Has long arms and legs, though Su Yuhe teases him about his thin limbs when he volunteers to chop wood 31 43.
• Expression: Often openly displays delight, apprehension, or dissatisfaction rather than concealing his feelings 6 23 37.

Personality

Mingxi is affectionate, lively, and openly attached to Su Yuhe. He seeks her company, eagerly praises her practical knowledge, and worries about her when Liu Xiaobo insults her. His attachment also makes him possessive of her attention: he protests when Meng Zhixian takes the place beside her and fears that Meng’s beauty will make him the preferred husband 7 10 12 37.

His sheltered upbringing leaves him inexperienced with both rural work and other people’s intentions. He readily accepts Ruan Puchuan’s help and promises to repay him with candied hawthorns once he has established himself. Meng Zhixian frequently interprets his behavior as calculated competition, but this suspicion belongs to Meng’s perspective rather than establishing Mingxi’s motives 8 12 19 21.

He retains a young master’s tastes, including a fondness for sweets and bun fillings, but gradually becomes more conscious of household expenses. His later reluctance to accept a small treat contrasts with his delight over his first candied-hawthorn skewer. He also wants to contribute, volunteering for chores and proposing to learn more demanding work rather than embroidery 6 19 31 43.

Abilities & Skills

Cooking and Fire-Tending

Mingxi develops from a kitchen novice into a useful participant in meal preparation 4 24.

• Learns egg-custard preparation from Su Yuhe, initially needing help with cracking eggs and measuring water 7.
• Tends the cooking fire, though he first struggles with fuel conservation 7 9.
• Studies egg fried rice under Ruan Puchuan and asks for further lessons 21 22.
• Helps prepare dishes that Su Yuhe praises as nearly matching her own cooking 24.
• Learns sweet-potato congee from Su Yuhe and prepares afternoon tea 34.
• Asks to learn chicken slaughter so he can cook chickens for his wife; Li Yun takes over the task instead 38.

Poultry Care and Foraging

• Cuts and carries grass to feed the household’s chickens, including working from first light until sunrise 19 20.
• Adjusts his efforts when another chicken increases the household’s feed requirements 20.
• Seeks Ruan Puchuan’s guidance in identifying edible wild vegetables; he initially cannot reliably distinguish them himself 20 21.

Candle-Making

• Learns to remake cup candles by melting leftover wax, adding cotton wicks, and allowing the wax to set 10.

Literacy and Copying

• Offers to help Su Yuhe copy books, although Lu Mingyi redirects him to kitchen chores on that occasion 24.
• Is later present as one of the three people copying when Lu Mingyi joins their table 27.

Relationships

• Su Yuhe — Wife and household provider. Mingxi openly seeks her affection and wants to cook for her. She protects and indulges him, while regarding him more like a younger brother than an adult romantic partner 5 24 38 45 50.
• Lu Mingyi — Elder brother and protector. He intervenes out of concern for Mingxi’s age, disciplines his disruptive behavior, and instructs him not to discuss their family’s past 5 12 42.
• Meng Zhixian — Fellow husband and frequent rival for Su Yuhe’s attention. Their disputes involve household expenses, chores, bathing, and sleeping arrangements, though Meng occasionally shows kindness, such as giving Mingxi another bun 8 37 39 45.
• Ruan Puchuan — Friend and cooking teacher. He helps Mingxi identify wild vegetables and learn new dishes, calling him one of his only two friends in the village 20 21 22.
• Li Yun — Helpful older acquaintance whom he calls “Brother Li.” Mingxi praises him warmly and asks to accompany him into the mountains; Li Yun prepares food for him and takes over chicken slaughter 29 31 32 38.
• Liu Xiaobo — A frightening neighbor whose verbal aggression and unwanted cheek-pinching lead Mingxi to avoid him and seek reassurance at home 6 23.

Notable Quotes

“Lu Mingxi. Ming as in bright, and xi as in stream.” 5

“Once I've found my footing here, I'll buy you candied hawthorn skewers.” 21

“In the future, I want to slaughter chickens myself and cook them for my wife.” 38