Notes on Longevity

Chapter 49 Life is unpredictable; Xiaoshuang inquires about You'an

The night was cool with a gentle spring breeze, and the full moon hung high in the sky.

"Brother An." This is a name that Xie Xiaoshuang rarely uses to address Yang Youan. In the past, she would only call him that when something big happened, or when those people came, or when she was nervous.

"Are Zhou Zhou and the others alright?" Late at noon, when Yu Mi returned after buying the medicine, he saw that Grandpa Yao had already passed away. He and Zhou Zhou stood around Grandpa Yao's bedside, crying their hearts out.

She and Yang Youan were deeply saddened by the sight, but they didn't know how to comfort them. They could only let them cry until the sky turned slightly yellow and the sun slowly set in the west, at which point they finally calmed down a bit.

"Take these silver coins first." Ping An took out a large bag of silver from his pocket and handed it to Yang You'an. Yang You'an took the silver from Ping An and then took out the silver he had prepared and handed it to Zhou Zhou as well.

He looked at Yumi, who was still lying beside Grandpa Medicine's bed, her eyes red and swollen, constantly wiping away tears: "This is what we can do to help you right now."

"Thank you, Young Master Yang." Zhou Zhou's eyes were also red and swollen. When Yang You'an handed him the two bags of silver, he didn't take them immediately. Instead, he looked dejectedly, his body visibly weak, as he turned away and looked at Grandpa Yao, whose eyes were closed on the bed.

Ten years ago, his family was unjustly murdered, and he has been living with Grandpa Yao ever since. For the past ten years, although they have lived in this dilapidated house, Grandpa Yao has taken meticulous care of him and Yumi; one could even say that Grandpa Yao truly treats them as his own grandsons, despite their dire circumstances.
Zhou Zhou turned around, his hands trembling as he took the two bags of silver from Yang You'an, and bowed to them again to express his gratitude: "Zhou Zhou, along with Yumi and Grandpa Yao, thank Young Master Yang, Miss Jie, and Daoist Ping'an. We will repay your kindness today in the future."

“Young Master Zhou, you’re too kind,” Yang Youan said, giving Zhou Zhou a bitter smile. “I’ve been in the same situation before.”

“You’an came from a poor family and his parents died early. After that, he lived with his aunt and uncle. But after I failed the imperial examination for the second time, I returned to that place and learned from others that my aunt and uncle had fallen off a cliff. At that time, I cried my heart out just like you.”

Yang Youan told Zhou Zhou about something he had only mentioned to the old troupe leader and the others once. He wasn't saying that he had the same experience as them and that they shouldn't be too sad, but rather that he wanted to tell them: "Life is unpredictable. Separation and death are a major path that everyone will experience."

"Understood, thank you, Young Master Yang." Zhou Zhou held the two bags of silver coins and looked at Yang You'an with a bitter smile. Zhou Zhou understood what he was talking about. This was not the first time he had experienced such a separation, but the departure of someone who had been with him for ten years and regarded him as family left him with indescribable emotions, and all he could do was cry.

"Yes, we'll come often in the future. You can also come to Liyuan to find us if you encounter any problems," Yang Youan said after seeing that Zhou Zhou had almost recovered.

“My sister said that the official’s plea to His Majesty has been effective. Although it’s impossible to go back to the way things were before, at least things won’t be like they are now. Zhou Zhou will remember what happened today, and I will definitely come to the Pear Garden to express my gratitude in the future.” Zhou Zhou wiped away the tears on her face and said to Yang Youan and the other two.

"That's good then." Yang Youan said, "It's getting late, so let's head back now. If you encounter any difficulties before His Majesty issues the decree, please feel free to come to me. Farewell." Yang Youan clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhou Zhou.

"Definitely." Zhou Zhou returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute.

In the backyard of the pear orchard, Xie Xiaoshuang stood beside Yang Youan with a frown. Although she already knew that Zhou Zhou and the others might be out of trouble soon, she was still worried.

"Don't worry, it seems everything should be alright." Yang Youan turned his gaze from the full moon in the sky to Xie Xiaoshuang's face. He looked at her worried face and smiled indulgently, slowly pulling her into his arms and holding her: "Since that official was able to persuade His Majesty, he must be of high status. Don't worry."

"Oh." Xie Xiaoshuang nestled in Yang Youan's arms and responded softly. "Then, Brother An, when are you going to marry me?" Xie Xiaoshuang looked up from Yang Youan's arms and asked, looking at his handsome yet resolute face.

Yang Youan still looked at Xie Xiaoshuang with doting eyes. He freed one hand and placed it on Xie Xiaoshuang's cool, dark hair, then looked up at the moon: "When do you want me to marry you?"

"Huh?" Xie Xiaoshuang was a little taken aback. She asked the question simply because she thought Yang Youan would say he would marry her after he graduated from high school, but she really didn't expect what Yang Youan said in the end.

She looked up at Yang Youan, a slight blush on her face. After hesitating for a moment, she asked him, "Can you marry me now?"

"What?" Xie Xiaoshuang spoke very softly, so softly that almost only she could hear it. Yang Youan only heard Xie Xiaoshuang say something, but didn't understand what she said, so he asked her in confusion, "What did you just say?"

Now Xie Xiaoshuang's face turned even redder, and she shyly buried her head in Yang Youan's arms, looking very bashful.

But Yang Youan was even more confused, so he asked her again, "What did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly."

Xie Xiaoshuang buried her head tightly in Yang Youan's arms, refusing to look up or say a word. But Yang Youan found it strange, thinking: What's wrong with this girl today?

In the backyard, Yang Youan held Xie Xiaoshuang in his arms. They looked up at the full moon in the night sky together, talking to each other. Sometimes they would separate and play around in the yard. Their voices were very soft. Ping An, who was standing at the door of the room, could only see the two of them playing around, but he didn't know what they were saying.

He stood at the doorway, watching the two playfully bickering while recalling the scene in the dilapidated house earlier that day. He had cried too when he saw Zhou Zhou and Yumi crying. His master's image from that moment kept flashing through his mind.

Even now, he still doesn't believe that his master might be dead. Because in his mind, his master has always been the image of an immortal being, and he doesn't believe that his master could be dead. Moreover, along the way, his master has told him many stories about Taoists who have attained immortality, and he believes that his master is one of them.

"Brother An." The laughter in the courtyard suddenly stopped. The silent backyard attracted Ping An's attention. He looked at the two people standing in the middle of the courtyard and saw the moonlight shining on them.

"What's wrong?" Yang Youan stood in front of Xie Xiaoshuang, smiling and looking at her with affection in his eyes.

"Didn't you want to know what I just said?" Xie Xiaoshuang looked at Yang Youan with a little shyness and awkwardness.

"It doesn't matter anymore, as long as you're by my side." Yang Youan had only said half a sentence when Xie Xiaoshuang suddenly kissed his lips. She quickly pulled away, her eyes fixed on Yang Youan.

Yang Youan was stunned for a moment, and only after she left him did he slowly utter the last half of his sentence. But he didn't know what to say after that, because this was the first time he had such intimate contact with a woman, especially with those four soft pieces touching. For a moment, he was lost in thought.

"I just asked, will you marry me now?"

(End of this chapter)