Notes on Longevity

Chapter 44 Wanyi weeps in her room, Ping'an speaks of immortals.

"Sister Wanyi, Shuping is gone." In the dimly lit room, two or three women stood anxiously behind Zhang Wanyi, who was sitting in front of a bronze mirror.

"That Shuping is really something. Everyone in the park knows you like him, but this guy..."

"Alright, stop talking. Let him go." Before the woman could finish speaking, Zhang Wanyi, with tears in her eyes, gently interrupted her.

"Sister Wanyi".

"It's okay, you guys go back first."

"Alright then, don't be too sad." Seeing this, the children could only shake their heads helplessly, open Zhang Wanyi's door, and walk out of the room.

After the woman who was walking behind came out, she closed the door, looked up at the group of men and women standing at the door, and shook her head: "Let's go."

After Shu Ping rejected Zhang Wanyi, the men who were originally in the small courtyard gathered everyone in the middle courtyard. However, they did not expect that as soon as they gathered together, they saw Shu Ping carrying a knife in his hand and a bamboo basket on his back, walking towards the outside of the pear orchard.

Seeing this, they wanted to go up and ask what was going on, but Shu Ping bowed to them. They were at a loss and were about to speak when Shu Ping quickened his pace and walked forward. Left with no other option, they went to Zhang Wanyi's room and told her what had happened.

They thought Zhang Wanyi would chase after them after hearing this, but both of them were stubborn.

After Zhang Wanyi returned from the courtyard, she was very sad and upset. She didn't understand why Shuping cared so much about her background. She didn't understand the difference between performing and singing, because in her eyes they were all the same.

When she heard the news that Shuping had left the opera troupe, the sadness in her heart became even more overwhelming, and hot tears welled up in her eyes. The steam from the tears blurred her vision, and finally, she couldn't hold back any longer; the tears streamed down her face.
Ping An had no idea what was going on; he only saw a group of people walk past the room opposite him.

He sat up in bed, on the edge, and looked at the two Daoist scriptures on the cabinet beside him: the Tao Te Ching and the Taiyi Golden Flower Scripture. He had read both books before, but hadn't finished them due to his hurried journey.

These two books were left here by Yang Youan when he visited Ping An this morning. Seeing that Ping An didn't respond to what he said, he simply left the books here, taking only the one he was holding. He thought that once Ping An regained his senses, his recovery wouldn't be so boring.

Ping An got out of bed, picked up the Tao Te Ching from the cabinet, touched the cover, and opened to the first page.
"These two originate from the same source but have different names. They are both called profound. Profound and yet more profound, the gateway to all wonders." Yang You'an closed the Daoist canon, placed it on the table, and stood up, shaking his head and nodding at the same time.

Seeing this, Xie Xiaoshuang asked in confusion, "What are you thinking about?"

Yang Youan smiled upon hearing this, "I wasn't thinking about anything, it's just that when I read this sentence, I always think of something Brother Li said to me before."

"What are you saying that you, a top scholar, can't forget?" Xie Xiaoshuang teased.

“Brother Li said that the methods of the world are different, but the source of the Dao is the same. All life and things in the world are the Dao, and the imperial examination is also one of the methods of the Dao.” Yang Youan said with a hint of helplessness. He smiled bitterly at Xie Xiaoshuang and said, “According to what Brother Li said, the fate between Brother Shu and Sister Wanyi is also a method of the Dao.”

Xie Xiaoshuang was taken aback by Yang Youan's words and didn't know what to say for a moment: "What about Sister Wanyi?"

"You saw it yourself just now, all those people who went to find Sister Wanyi left with their heads down. It's up to her to decide what she wants to do."

Around noon, the group was discussing Shu Ping's departure at the dining area. Just as they were getting into a heated discussion, Yang Youan and Xie Xiaoshuang walked in carrying food boxes. They immediately shut up and buried their heads in their food.

The two of them naturally overheard their conversation, but they didn't say much. Instead, they served food to Ping An and Zhang Wanyi respectively.

After the two left, one of them said, "What was Shu Ping thinking? Wan Yi is such a good person! How could he refuse her and just leave like that?"

"Indeed, it's a real pity about those two. Now that Shuping is gone, I wonder what Wanyi thinks."

"Won't Wanyi follow Shuping's example and leave too, will she?"

"Do you think everyone's as stupid as you? Leaving just like that?" "I didn't leave!"

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

Xie Xiaoshuang carried a food box into Zhang Wanyi's room. She felt sorry for Zhang Wanyi, who was sitting in front of the bronze mirror. After placing the food box on the table, she also came to the bronze mirror and combed her hair: "Sister Wanyi, eat something, don't go hungry."

"Shuang'er." Zhang Wanyi turned around, sobbing, hugged Xie Xiaoshuang's waist, turned her head to the side, and pressed her face against her chest.

Xie Xiaoshuang also held Zhang Wanyi's head, gently stroking it to soothe her emotions.

When Yang Youan arrived at Ping An's door, he saw him sitting in a chair, quietly holding a book and reading it word by word.

"Master Ping An, it's time to eat." Yang You'an carried a food box into the room and came to Ping An's side.

Upon hearing this, Ping An looked up at Yang You'an, who was smiling at him, and said, "Thank you, Young Master Yang."

Ping An put down the book, stood up, and bowed to Yang Youan.

Yang Youan smiled and placed the food box on the table, saying to him, "Daoist Ping An, please eat first."

"Thank you for your help these past few days." Ping An looked at Yang Youan, who hadn't opened the food box, and his expression was clearly somewhat reserved.

Yang Youan also noticed this. As he opened the food box and took out the food and a medicinal soup, he smiled at Ping An and said, "What's the big deal? Besides, the Taoist priest from Zouma Temple gave us money. There's no trouble at all."

Hearing this, Ping An lowered his head, thinking to himself: So my senior brother has already paid.

After Yang Youan placed everything on the table, he noticed Ping An's lowered head and knew what he was thinking. So he said to him, "Even if you haven't paid, you don't need to be so reserved. Otherwise, we wouldn't have kept you here when Grandpa Yao and the others brought you over. Our class master is very kind and likes to make good connections, so Ping An, please stay here and wait for the visiting Taoist priests to come next spring."

"Thank you," Ping An said, bowing to Yang Youan again.

"Let's eat first," Yang Youan said, handing the bowl of medicinal soup to Ping An.

Ping An picked up the bowl and slowly drank the bitter medicinal soup. After finishing the soup, he sat down and began to eat his food slowly and carefully.

After Ping An finished eating, Yang Youan tidied the table and intended to leave immediately. However, after thinking for a moment, he said to Ping An, "By the way, Daoist Ping An, I have been studying the Daoist Canon for some time now. There are still many things I don't understand. I wonder if you could help me clear up my doubts?"

“I’ve been following my master around in search of immortals since I was a child, so I haven’t read much of the Taoist canon and there are things I don’t quite understand,” Ping An said honestly.

"Seeking immortality?" Yang Youan was somewhat shocked after Ping An finished speaking. He had thought that he could take this opportunity to talk to Ping An more and distract himself, but he did not expect that Ping An would say something so surprising as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Yes," Ping An replied calmly, but seeing Yang Youan's expression, he wondered if he had said something wrong.

"Are there really immortals in this world?" Ping An wasn't wrong, but the word "immortal" was truly unbelievable to Yang You'an. "Have you found any?"

Ping An shook his head and didn't say anything.

"I understand." Yang Youan was a little excited. Although he hadn't found them, it at least proved that immortals really existed in this world. Otherwise, Daoist Ping'an and his master wouldn't have been searching for immortals everywhere. He suppressed his excitement and didn't let it show on his face, but his words still revealed those emotions: "Then you should rest first. I'll come to see you again later."

(End of this chapter)