Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 29 The Experience of the Elders
Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng said, "There are 360 professions, and every profession has its top talent. The fact that the old man has been able to row the boat for so many years makes him a top talent among boatmen!"

In today's world, if an old man can row a boat for most of his life, Lu Zheng thinks there is nothing wrong with calling him the number one boatman.

The old man narrowed his eyes and grinned, "You scholars are so pleasant to hear. I have become the top scholar. Hehe, I hope you can really become the top scholar in the future!"

Faced with Lu Zheng's praise, the old man was very happy and also blessed Lu Zheng in return.

"Thank you for your advice, old man!" Lu Zheng said with a bow.

Lu Zheng looked at the pile of goods in the boat and asked, "Where are you going to sell the goods, old man?"

The old man said, “Let’s go to Changchuan County next door and sell some mountain products. We can earn some hard-earned money to support our family.”

"It's not easy for you to go out alone. Have you ever thought about asking a younger generation in your family for help?" Lu Zheng asked curiously.

The old man scratched his head and said with a simple smile, "It's not that my descendants are unfilial, it's just that this work is too tiring and dangerous, and I can't bear to let them follow me. At my age, I am not afraid of these things. While I still have some strength, I will save more for the younger generations so that they can live a better life..."

Lu Zheng sighed, "Life is not easy."

The old man was very optimistic and said, "Fortunately, we are relatively peaceful here. I heard that some countries are at war every year, and the people there can't survive. We ordinary people don't ask for too much. As long as we can have enough food to eat and have surplus food every year, we are blessed."

Lu Zheng nodded slightly and looked at the river surface behind the stern of the boat.

There were two dark shadows swimming faintly underwater, following the boat slowly.

After a closer look, Lu Zheng discovered that they were not fish, but two underwater souls.

Lu Zheng looked at the two wandering souls and said calmly, "Old man, there seems to be something underwater?"

The old man turned around and took a closer look, then smiled and said, "It's cloudy today, and the little ghost in the water just came out to get some fresh air. Don't be afraid, scholar..."

As he spoke, the old man walked to the stern of the boat with a bamboo pole and hit the two wandering souls, cursing angrily: "Get out, get out! What are you following your father Cui's boat for? Get away from me! You won't stop until you die!"

The beating of the bamboo pole had no effect on the ghosts, but under the momentum of the old man's angry curse, the two wandering souls disappeared.

Seeing this, Lu Zheng couldn't help but say: "Old man is really brave, even scolding ghosts."

The old man smiled sheepishly and said, "These are nothing. They are just ordinary ghosts. As long as you stay out of the water and have enough energy and blood, these water ghosts can't do anything to you! At night, there are even more powerful ones in the water."

"Tell me about it?" Lu Zheng became curious.

The old man replied, continuing to row the boat, and said slowly, "At night, the yin energy is strong, and all kinds of ghosts will come out. Some water ghosts are more powerful... If you spend the night on the boat and hear someone calling you from underwater or behind you, don't answer. If you answer, your soul will be possessed, and you will lose control of your body and fall into the water. If a water ghost entangles you, then heaven and earth will be helpless."

The old man paused, then added, "Don't pee near the boat at night. Some water ghosts will smell the human scent and come. If they pull you, you'll fall into the water and die!"

The old man spoke vividly about his experience.

Lu Zheng found it so interesting that he almost wanted to crack some melon seeds or eat a piece of melon.

He couldn't help but sigh that the old man was indeed quite capable of sailing the boat for so many years.

"Uncle, have you ever encountered a water monster?" Lu Zheng asked curiously.

Hearing this, the old man recalled the past and said slowly, "Of course I have seen it! Of course I haven't! When I was young, I was delivering goods on a big ship with my friends, and I even saw a big dragon flipping over in the river! It was in the river in Changchuan County. At that time, many boats flipped over and many people died!" The old man paused, feeling relieved and sighing, "The big ship I was on also flipped over, and my friends were drowned. I was luckier and nothing happened. But since then, I have returned to the county to paddle my own small boat and do some small business. There are many monsters in big rivers, and the river we are on is so narrow, what kind of monster can it accommodate?"

Lu Zheng asked, "Is there really a dragon? What happened to it later?"

The old man said, "Really! Many people saw it with their own eyes. If I hadn't been there, I wouldn't have believed it! As for the dragon, I don't know what happened to it. I just heard that the government sent some powerful people to look for it, but they never found it, and then the matter was left unresolved."

Because this matter was so profound, even after so many years, the old man has not forgotten it at all.

He also gave a detailed description of the dragon he saw.

The dragon is more than ten feet long, with scales all over its body that are blue-gray in color. It has two legs with four claws on each leg, a pointed head like a crocodile, and a horn on top with a golden tip.

The old man continued, "It is said that it is a Jiaolong that has reached the third level of the demon realm. If it goes one step further, it will be able to transform into a dragon."

Lu Zheng thought about it and realized that so many years had passed. Even if the dragon had not transformed into a dragon, it was not something he could afford to offend.

But then I thought again, this has nothing to do with him, there is nothing to compare.

It's impossible that the other party is still lurking in the nearby counties and towns, waiting for him to eliminate the harm to the people?
The old man and the young man were chatting, and the journey went smoothly. Soon the boat arrived at a fork in the river.

The old man said, "Scholar, I'm going to take the main road now. If you want to go to Baisha Village, follow the stream. It's only two or three miles away and you'll see the village. The road is narrow, so I can only take you here."

"Okay, thank you, old man." Lu Zheng thanked.

The old man held the pole and sent Lu Zheng to the shore.

Before going ashore, Lu Zheng took out five copper coins for the boat fare.

The boat fare should be neither too much nor too little. Giving too little will make the old man feel like you are giving alms or that you owe him a favor, which is not good either.

"Hey, it's just a stop on the way. How can I ask you for money, scholar?" The old man waved his hands repeatedly to refuse.

Lu Zheng smiled slightly and insisted, "How can the boat fare be so low? If that's the case, I'm afraid I won't dare take your boat again."

Upon hearing this, the old man no longer insisted, thanked her gratefully and took the copper coin.

Before leaving, the old man gave another warning: "Scholar, be careful when traveling and studying. Don't go into the woods or near water at night, and don't enter dilapidated houses or old temples. Don't respond to voices if you don't see people, and don't trust people you meet easily... Remember this!"

These are his experiences gained over the years, and he is now sharing them with Lu Zheng, hoping that Lu Zheng will have a safe journey of study.

Lu Zheng nodded and said seriously, "I understand. Have a safe trip, old man!"

The old man waved his hand and rowed the boat slowly away.

Lu Zheng watched the boat disappear around the corner of the river. In addition to the fare, he also secretly stuffed a piece of cultural treasure on the deck, hoping that it would protect the old man's safety.

[You have good intentions in your heart. Do one good deed a day, behave like a gentleman. Your elegance +1.]

(End of this chapter)