Notes on Longevity

Chapter 27 A pair of letters were sent to the newlyweds, which was a good match for Wenren.

Yang Youan was still thinking when he felt someone pat him on the shoulder.

"What are you thinking about?"

Yang Youan snapped out of his daze and looked at Zhang Ze'an in front of him, repeatedly replying, "It's nothing, it's nothing."

"Let's go upstairs."

After Zhang Ze'an finished speaking, he turned around and went upstairs. Yang You'an followed behind, his mind suddenly filled with many questions.

First, Li Chengru was actually the son of the Minister of Revenue. But he didn't understand why Li Chengru said he had been traveling the world with his parents since childhood. He couldn't understand why Li Chengru would lie to him.

Secondly, from what he had seen along the way, he noticed that Li Chengru and Zhang Ze'an were very similar in both demeanor and speech. Since they were mortal enemies, why did they have so many similarities?

Furthermore, although Li Chengru was the son of the Minister of Revenue, he wouldn't dare to renege on his promise before the emperor and even demand a rematch. Most importantly, the emperor agreed.

He really couldn't figure it out.

The two arrived at Li Chengru's door together. Yang Youan was about to knock when Zhang Ze'an pushed the door open and laughed, saying, "Chengru, are you confident you can beat me this time?"

His words were full of teasing.

Yang Youan followed Zhang Ze'an into the room, where he saw that Li Chengru had changed out of his colorful shirt and into his usual clothes. He was sitting leisurely in a chair, brewing tea in a refined and easygoing manner.

He looked up at Yang You'an, then said to Zhang Ze'an, "I have no confidence. Anyway, you're destined to lose."

"Look at what you're saying," Zhang Ze'an said, approaching Li Chengru and changing the subject. "I heard you and You'an had a falling out?"

"What? Are you here to mediate?" Li Chengru poured himself a cup of tea and took a small sip.

"No, that's not it. I've heard what you said the other day, and to be honest, what you said was indeed excessive."

Zhang Ze'an didn't stand on ceremony and pulled out a chair to sit next to him.

"I was just teasing him, who knew he wouldn't take it so well." Li Chengru calmly downed his hot tea in one gulp.

He put down his teacup and stared at Yang Youan, who was standing at the door.

Yang Youan looked at Li Chengru and saw that his eyes were darting away. He subconsciously took a step back.

Yang Youan didn't know what was going on, but when he looked into Li Chengru's eyes just now, it felt like he was looking into the eyes of a tiger.

Although Li Chengru's face showed no expression.

"Brother Li, actually I..."

Yang Youan had just started to speak when he stopped.

Li Chengru suddenly stood up as he spoke and slowly walked towards him.

Yang Youan stared at Li Chengru with a grim expression, feeling very nervous.

If Zhang Ze'an, who was sitting in the chair, hadn't been covering his mouth, he probably would have been beaming with joy by now.

"Brother Li...?"

Li Chengru approached step by step, and Yang Youan's face began to sweat.

But just when he thought Li Chengru was about to do something, he suddenly smiled, which startled Yang Youan: "Youan, I spoke too harshly that night, and my words were inappropriate. I hope you don't mind."

As soon as Li Chengru finished speaking, Zhang Ze'an couldn't help but burst into laughter, "I never expected that someone who even the emperor had to show deference to would apologize to someone."

Zhang Ze'an was laughing so hard he almost slapped the table. Li Chengru, however, just smiled and looked at Yang You'an.

“Brother Li, I am not as good as you, and everyone has their own ambitions. I was not thinking things through that day,” Yang Youan said, bowing.

“You’re right. Ten years of hard study is indeed not easy. Although I haven’t experienced it myself, I’ve often traveled the martial arts world and I understand that even more than ten years of hard training can’t compare to five or six years of training by someone with exceptional talent.”

Li Chengru returned Yang Youan's greeting. "Since you're all alright, I'll head back now. Farewell."

As he spoke, Zhang Ze'an got up to leave. When he came to Yang You'an's side, he said to him, "The son of the Minister of Revenue is Li Xing'an."

Upon hearing this, Yang Youan looked at Zhang Ze'an in surprise and was about to speak when Zhang Ze'an interrupted him, "If you have any questions, ask him yourself."

After Zhang Ze'an finished speaking, he went downstairs without giving Yang You'an a chance to speak.

After Zhang Ze'an left, Li Chengru turned around and returned to the table, pouring himself and Yang You'an each a cup of tea.

"I am indeed not the son of the Minister of Revenue."

Yang Youan was even more confused. "Then why are all those candidates called Young Master Li? And on the way back just now, Brother Zhang said that if you want to be an official, you only need to tell His Majesty. I..."

Yang Youan couldn't continue speaking because his mind was now in a mess, and he didn't know what to say anymore.

"Didn't I tell you before? Don't underestimate me because of my young age; I still hold some status in the martial arts world. As for His Majesty, I have done him a favor, which is why he's been so willful with me," Li Chengru said slowly, sipping his tea.

If it were someone else before, Yang You'an might not have believed it at all. But after talking with Zhang Ze'an, he was still skeptical of what Li Chengru had said earlier. After all, what kind of deed could one do to be kind to the emperor?
"I know you don't believe me, and I'm too lazy to explain. It's all just trivial stuff." Li Chengru poured another cup of tea. "Won't you come and sit down?"

Yang Youan hesitated. Even if half of what he said was false, half of it was true.

If Yang Youan knew about this person, he wouldn't dare to speak to him like that.

Seeing that Yang Youan dared not move, Li Chengru smiled slightly, then stood up, walked to the window, and said to Yang Youan, "Do you still remember what I said to the other examinees when you first arrived at the inn?"

Yang Youan shook his head.

"I'm not sure I'll get first place, but second place is a sure thing." This time, Li Chengru didn't sit down. Instead, he leaned against the window, staring at the horizon. "I've been thinking about what you said that night. You're right, so many people study hard for ten years, all for this day. As for me, I was just trying to save face. His Majesty didn't actually agree back then. If it weren't for the promise he made to me, I might not have even been in this year's imperial examination. And I don't know where I would be now."

"What do you mean, Brother Li?" Yang Youan asked, half-confused.

"It's nothing." Li Chengru smiled slightly. "I could have gotten first place in this exam, but what you said that day really touched on me, so I got second place. That's why you lost."

“But didn’t Brother Li just say that Brother Zhang was destined to lose?” Yang Youan frowned.

Li Chengru laughed loudly, "You're really easy to tease. I was just kidding. The results of the high school entrance exam will be released in about a month. Go and take a look then."

His voice went from loud to soft, and the distance between him and Yang Youan also went from far to near.

Yang Youan looked at Li Chengru standing in front of him and asked in confusion, "Aren't you going?"

"I'm too lazy to go. You can see who comes in first place then. Anyway, I'm still betting on Zhang Ze'an."

Yang Youan was speechless. He felt that Li Chengru's words could not be trusted at all. He kept changing his story, and he no longer knew which was true and which was false.

"In that case, I'll go back and write some words to prepare the ten taels of silver."

Yang Youan bowed to Li Chengru. After speaking, he turned and left the room, heading towards his guest room.

Li Chengru walked to the door and watched Yang Youan walk into his room. When he saw him close the door, he smiled and said, "That old rascal was right. He really is just a child. I wonder if I'll have another chance to tease him in the future."

Li Chengru raised an eyebrow, suddenly thought of something, stepped out the door, went down to the lobby, ordered two meals from the innkeeper, one for Yang Youan and one for himself, then asked for some wine for himself, and finally asked them to prepare paper and pen.

After a satisfying meal, he had someone clean up the mess, then quietly placed the paper on the table and began to write:
"Let me call you my brother for now, You'an. By the time you receive this letter, I will have already departed. I am deeply ashamed upon hearing your words, for I have studied the classics and my words are all unclear. I hope you will forgive me. The imperial examination is a major event for all scholars, yet I, your brother, sought the Emperor's favor due to a bet, thus fulfilling my personal desires. I dare not leave before you. I write this letter with no other intention than to express my feelings. I have traversed both the court and the martial world, but I cherish the beauty of nature even more. My brother, you need not worry about me. I wish you success in the palace examination and the attainment of official rank. Your brother, Wenren."

Yang Youan smiled as he read the contents of the letter. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with the letter written by Li Chengru, but rather that Li Chengru had drawn a cricket at the end of the letter.

As Yang Youan read the contents of the letter, he suddenly remembered something. He picked up the box and the silver coins, returned to his room, took out his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and began to write: "To my elder brother, Li, who is a scholar. Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person. I am delighted to read it."

"Upon arriving in the capital, I was fortunate to meet you, brother. I am grateful for your help in providing me with a place to rest. I am deeply grateful for your guidance the other day, brother Li, and I will remember it forever. However, now that the examination is over, we must part ways. I understand your intentions from your letter. This farewell is not to be taken for granted. As a man of the martial world, though the world is vast and boundless, there will always be times when we meet again. Brother Li, the mountains are high and the roads are long, until we meet again in the martial world."

After Yang Youan finished writing his reply, he left the letter hanging on the table, waiting for night to fall.

(End of this chapter)