Notes on Longevity

Chapter 16 Life is full of uncertainties, and people are constantly being tormented.

After pressing the paper down, Yang Youan walked to the side and stretched.

Although he was a scholar, he had followed his uncle to hunt in the mountains since he was a child. In addition, he had the Six Arts of a Gentleman in the imperial examinations and was able to get first place in the provincial examinations, so his physique must have been quite good.

Yang Youan performed an unknown set of boxing techniques in the room. His feet moved at varying speeds, sometimes powerful, sometimes gentle, in sync with his arms and body as he performed the techniques. His movements were both strong and graceful, and his figure resembled a pine tree or a crane.

After completing a set of boxing techniques, Yang Youan felt refreshed. He noticed that the ink on the paper had dried, so he rolled it up, took it in his hand, walked to the box, and took out a brown bamboo tube to put the paper inside.

Yang Youan met many people on his way to the imperial examination, and they all said that his calligraphy was beautiful and could be sold for money.

Naturally, Yang Youan relied on the help of fellow villagers or government officials along the way. It would be even better if he could sell his calligraphy and paintings for some money.

Therefore, apart from various forms of relief, Yang Youan has also made it to where he is today through his calligraphy and paintings.

Yang Youan took the bamboo tube and walked out the door, but when he arrived at the lobby, he was stopped by the shopkeeper's waiter.

"Young Master Yang, Young Master Li is waiting for you in the backyard."

The waiter, hunching over, spoke to Yang Youan.

"Wait for me?" Yang Youan frowned, somewhat puzzled. "Why would you wait for me?"

"Young Master Li didn't say, so I dare not ask."

The waiter still wore a smile.

"Where to go?" He glanced at the calligraphy in his hand, then looked at the waiter's ever-smiling face. Helpless, he had no choice but to temporarily give up the idea of ​​going out to sell his calligraphy, since he was now living under someone else's roof.

"Go this way," the waiter pointed to the stairs leading upstairs and indicated the way to Yang Youan, "Go straight through that path and you'll reach the backyard."

"Thank you, sir." Yang Youan bowed to the waiter, then took the bamboo tube and walked in the direction he pointed.

Just below the second floor, there is a dark path.

The path is obvious, but it's hard to spot without careful observation. Even if you do see it, you wouldn't think about what it is or where it leads.

Because it is pitch black inside, and the passage is very narrow, only wide enough for one person to pass through.

As Yang Youan walked along the dark and narrow path, he couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive, because he couldn't see the way ahead, even though as he entered, he could see faint stars scattered not far ahead.

But people's fear of the unknown and the dark is etched deep in their memory.

It is said that in ancient times, when there was no fire, people would hide in caves at night, except for the daytime when they were active outside, hunting and eating raw food.

The night was endless, and nothing could be seen, but people's thoughts were active. They imagined whether there were wild beasts outside waiting for them to come out of their caves, and they were also afraid that those demons outside might have started to come out to look for food again.

As the light gradually brightened, Yang Youan walked to the end of the path and saw a wooden door in the shadows.

The wooden door has countless tiny holes of varying sizes, and it is through these holes that the light shines through.

Yang Youan felt a sense of anticipation because he could see a patch of greenery behind the door through the small holes.

Spring has passed, and all things are flourishing.

He gently pushed the door open, and a ray of light shone through the crack in the wooden door. At the same time, he felt a cool breeze blowing through his palm.

He was overjoyed and pushed the door open.

The moment the door opened, he felt no summer heat, only a vibrant spring scene.

Outside the gate was an orchard enclosed by a white wall. A long plum tree lined both sides of a stone path, its branches laden with ripe fruit. Yang Youan walked into the orchard, looked up at the plum trees, and felt a deep sense of peace as a gentle breeze blew by.

At the end of the stone path is a circular opening. Passing through the opening, the lush green bamboo on both sides sway gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound. This sound has a power to instantly calm the mind.

As Yang Youan walked along the winding stone path, he could vaguely hear the sound of flowing water in the distance. Intrigued, he quickened his pace and arrived at the two walls.

The two walls were staggered, leaving a passageway in the middle.

Yang Youan walked to the second wall, turned to the left, looked at the white wall that connected to the first wall, and walked forward.

After three steps, another world appeared on his right.

He turned around and felt as if he were in a fairyland far away from the hustle and bustle of the world.

Before him lay a clear lake, in which some small fish swam.

In the middle of the lake is a winding wooden path, at the end of which is a bamboo forest.

In the center of the bamboo forest, there was a wooden pavilion. Inside the pavilion, a young man dressed in light gray clothes sat quietly, holding a book.

Yang Youan walked onto the wooden path, not lingering to look at the scenery in the lake, but quickly heading towards the pavilion surrounded by bamboo groves.

As he entered the bamboo grove, the man heard his footsteps, put down his book, stood up, looked at Yang You'an, and said to him in a gentle manner, with the etiquette of a Confucian scholar, "Young Master Yang has arrived."

Yang Youan was taken aback by Li Chengru's actions for a moment, but quickly recovered and returned the greeting.

"Please take a seat."

Li Chengru stretched out one hand towards the square stone table behind him, looking at Yang Youan with a smile.

Yang Youan walked to the stone table with a slightly embarrassed expression, and only sat down after Li Chengru sat down.

"I wonder what brings Brother Li here?" Yang Youan looked at Li Chengru with confusion. He really couldn't understand Li Chengru anymore, and he felt like he was being completely baffled by him.

"It's nothing. Don't you think it's more enjoyable to read here?"

Li Chengru closed the book and said to Yang Youan.

"Indeed, this place has a unique charm. The sound of bamboo, the gentle breeze, and the flowing water here are truly calming and conducive to reading. But there's one thing I don't understand: how can an inn have all these things?"

Yang Youan expressed his feelings, while also feeling puzzled. Ever since he entered the backyard, he felt that the things in the yard did not look like an inn, but rather like a private residence.

Li Chengru smiled, looked at the lake outside the bamboo circle, and said, "This place used to be a residence, not an inn. A few years ago, the owners changed their residence, but they didn't want this place to be abandoned or sold to others, so they expanded the outer part, which is the Bailai Inn that you see now."

"I see." Yang Youan said thoughtfully. "But even if we move to a different place, this location is excellent, so it shouldn't be abandoned."

Li Chengru replied, "That's right, so they chose to turn this place into an inn. Apart from the area for guests, people are basically not allowed to enter the backyard."

"Then why was Brother Li allowed to enter?" Yang Youan asked, puzzled. If no one was allowed to enter, then why was Li Chengru allowed to enter?
"Because I know the owner of this house," Li Chengru said with a smile.

"I'm sorry for my ignorance," Yang Youan said with an embarrassed smile.

"My friendship with him began with a misunderstanding. I lost to him in the imperial examination, but now I'm living in his place. It's really ironic."

Li Chengru sighed, but Yang Youan was confused. "I wonder who Brother Li is talking about?"

"The bet between us, my mortal enemy, Zhang Ze'an!"

(End of this chapter)