Notes on Longevity

Chapter 46 Time Flies Like a White Horse Passing Through a Crack in the Cracks, It's Over in an Instant
Time flies like an arrow, passing quietly from the fingertips turning the pages of books, from the laughter in the front or middle yard, or from the two of them slowly pacing back and forth in the snow under an umbrella in the backyard.
In the twentieth year of the Wen Shang dynasty, the spring of the new year began, at dawn.

Winter has passed and spring is approaching. The snow on the eaves, branches and the ground begins to melt and dissipate as the warm sun rises, turning into water droplets that fall to the ground.

They collided with the snowdrifts that had long since turned into a puddle of water, splashing up a few drops. Ripples spread across the surface under the sunlight.

Under the sunlight, the puddles on the ground reflected the new branches and green leaves sprouting from the trees on their constantly shimmering surface. They also reflected a figure walking across them under the eaves of a house.

The figure, dressed in a blue robe, had his back to it, so it couldn't see the person's face. It could only hear a clear, resonant male voice reading aloud: "A gentleman is learned in literature and restrained by propriety; thus, he will not stray from the right path."

"Is the virtue of moderation truly supreme?"

"If someone generously gives to the people and can help the masses, what do you think? Can he be called benevolent?"

"What business is it with others? Must one be a saint? The benevolent person, wishing to establish himself, also establishes others; wishing to achieve success, also helps others achieve success. Being able to take what is near at hand as an analogy can be called the way of benevolence." Before the man finished speaking, a soft female voice sounded behind him.

Upon hearing this, the man smiled slightly, then turned around in the courtyard, put his hands behind his back, raised an eyebrow, and asked the woman, "If a benevolent person is told, 'There is benevolence in the well,' will he follow it?"

The woman smiled quietly and replied gently, "Why is that? A gentleman may be abandoned, but not trapped; he may be deceived, but not misled."

The man smiled and continued to ask, "Do you understand what it means?"

The woman replied, "To save someone who is trapped in a well is benevolence; to avoid falling in yourself is wisdom. If the one who saves someone falls into the well, then he is benevolent but lacks wisdom."

"You are so intelligent, young lady. I am truly impressed." The man said with a smile, holding a book and bowing to the woman.

"Zhenghe, you're teasing me again." The woman looked at the man's bowing posture with a shy expression, and slowly walked to his side, gently scolding him.

The man intended to touch the boy's head, but he seemed to catch a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye and did not do so. Instead, he looked in that direction and saw a handsome boy in gray standing at the door, watching them.

"Good morning, Master Ping An." The man bowed to the boy after his gaze fell on his face.

Upon seeing this, the woman beside him also bowed to Ping An.

"Young Master Yang, Miss Xie, good morning too." Ping An greeted the two with a smile.

"I saw the Taoist priest from Zoumaguan come to the garden a couple of days ago. I wonder when Taoist priest Ping An will be going to Zoumaguan? Is there anything I can help you with?" Yang Youan asked Ping An.

"My senior brother sent someone to say that the snow on the mountain hasn't completely melted yet, and they'll come to pick me up in another half month. I might need to trouble you for the next half month."

"It's alright, Daoist Ping An, please feel free to stay here." Yang You'an said with a smile, and as he spoke, he subconsciously put one hand into Xie Xiaoshuang's arms, not yet realizing what was happening.

Jie Xiaoshuang was initially shocked, but her expression quickly changed from shock to a shy one. Normally, when no one was around or in front of other people in the garden, Jie Xiaoshuang wouldn't think anything of Yang Youan's actions, nor would she feel shy. The main reason was that this was the first time in more than two months that Yang Youan had been so intimate with her in front of Ping An.

Seeing this, Ping An, though young, knew the relationship between the two, but he hadn't expected Yang You'an to be so open with it. Ping An lowered his head and asked Yang You'an, "I wonder if Young Master Yang has some time these next few days?" "Does Daoist Ping An need me to do anything?" Yang You'an asked curiously.

"Two months ago, my master and I encountered villains in a temple in the forest. My master is now missing, but I was rescued by Grandpa Medicine and the others. I want to take advantage of the time before I have to go up the mountain to thank them in person. I need you to give me directions."

“Yes, when will Master Ping An arrive?” Yang Youan asked.

"Grandpa Medicine saved my life. I wonder if Young Master Yang has anything to express his gratitude?" Ping An asked.

“Grandpa Yao and his family originally had a business, but they were forced into begging by an unexpected disaster,” Yang Youan said thoughtfully. “But now they beg for food and clothing every day. Instead of giving them things, we should give them some money.”

Before Yang Youan could finish his last sentence, Xie Xiaoshuang broke free from his embrace, looking at him with disbelief. Yang Youan, only realizing what had happened when he had pulled Xie Xiaoshuang into his arms, was also caught off guard by her action.

Even so, there was still one thing he didn't understand: why was Xie Xiaoshuang looking at him like that?

“Indeed, then please take me there, Young Master Yang.”

Ping An's words made Xie Xiaoshuang even more incredulous. Ping An had been living and eating at the garden every day for the past few days, and even his medicine was paid for by the Taoist priest at Zoumaguan. She had wanted to interrupt Yang Youan when he said those words, but by the time she managed to pull away, he had already finished speaking.

She looked at Ping An somewhat awkwardly, thinking that Ping An would say that he had no money, but he blurted out that he should ask Yang Youan to take her there.

"Master Ping An, wait for me a moment. I'll put the book back first." Yang Youan said, and hurriedly took the book and walked into the room.

After Yang Youan returned to his room, Jie Xiaoshuang looked at Ping An with some concern and asked, "How much silver does Daoist Ping An need? I'll go and prepare some."

"Thank you, Miss Jie. I told my senior brother when he came a couple of days ago, and he delivered the silver last night." Ping An bowed, thanked her, and explained.

"I see." Xie Xiaoshuang breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Ping An's explanation. He was afraid that Ping An didn't have any money on him and only agreed out of embarrassment. It turned out that he had worried too much.

After putting the book back on the shelf, Yang Youan took out a bag of silver coins from a cabinet next to him. He weighed it in his hand, and after feeling that it was about right, he left the room.

He approached Ping An with the silver, handed her the bag containing the silver, and said, "There are about twenty or thirty taels here. That should be enough for them to do some work and make ends meet."

"No need, Young Master Yang. I had my senior brother send over the money."

Ping An's words made Yang Youan feel embarrassed, and the hand that had handed over the money felt somewhat heavy. He had just been telling the truth, and like Xie Xiaoshuang, he had assumed Ping An didn't have any money on him, which was why he had taken it. But who would have thought!
"Let's go then," Yang Youan said to Ping An, pulling his hand back and putting the silver into his pocket to ease the awkwardness.

"Thank you for your help," Ping An said, bowing.

And so, Yang Youan and Xie Xiaoshuang led Ping An out of the pear garden and onto the street toward where Grandpa Yao and the others lived.

(End of this chapter)