Notes on Longevity

Chapter 76 Peaceful Reunion with Zhang Ze'an, Anzhi Night Talks with Wenren

The deliveryman conveyed the information very accurately.

As expected, Zhang Ze'an quickly opened the door. He was dressed in white, looking somewhat haggard, and looked at the young man, confirming Ping An's name: "Are you sure that Taoist's name is Ping An?"

"Yes. He also said that he had a good relationship with you in Wuli Pear Garden." The young man continued to add some important things that Ping An had said.

"Still outside the door?" Zhang Ze'an looked at the young man in surprise, thinking to himself that he hadn't gone up the mountain.

The young man replied, "Yes."

"Let's go to the door."

He stood there quietly, motionless. He stared blankly at the vermilion gate, lost in thought.

Less than fifteen minutes later, the door was opened again. But this time, it wasn't just a crack; it was halfway open.

After opening the door, the young man stepped behind another door. Zhang Ze'an also came out, but when he saw Ping An's changed and somewhat melancholy face, he paused for a moment and asked hesitantly, "Are you Daoist Ping An?"

Ping An's melancholy smile held a hint of sadness. He looked at Zhang Ze'an, performed the Daoist salute, and slowly said, "This humble Daoist Ping An greets Young Master Zhang."

Ping An spoke, and Zhang Ze'an naturally confirmed his identity. He approached Ping An, who was now almost as tall as him, and asked the question that wasn't the first time he'd been asked: "Didn't you go up the mountain? Why did you come down? Are you traveling?"

"You could call it a wandering journey. I'm planning to head east to Penglai to seek immortals," Ping An said with a slight smile.

"Please come in, let's talk inside."

Zhang Ze'an led Ping An to the front hall and instructed the servants to pour tea. After the two sat down, Zhang Ze'an's haggard face looked much better, and he asked curiously, "Are there really immortals in this world?"

Ping An smiled and said, "I haven't seen it, so I can't say for sure. However, I did enter the fairyland with my master in Kunlun."

Zhang Ze'an said "Oh," then suddenly remembered something and asked, "How did you find this place, Daoist Master? I don't remember telling you where I live."

Ping An took a sip of tea, sighed, and said, "I originally intended to bypass Fuyang and go directly east along the river to Penglai. However, the head of the Pear Garden Troupe and Grandpa Yao saved my life, so I waited until I met them and thanked them before leaving. I just didn't expect so many things to happen."

"You knew everything?" Zhang Ze'an looked at Ping An, who was also heartbroken, and sighed helplessly.

“I met Zhou Zhou in the pear garden and learned the general situation from him. Since you are acquainted with Young Master Yang, I came to find you.”

Ping An spoke softly, his melancholy expression heavy with sorrow. He didn't really want to bring it up, but he wanted to know what had happened back then.

“After you left, the imperial examinations began. Because you left, there was no one to guard the Pear Garden. I was afraid that the Second Prince would cause trouble, so I stayed in the Pear Garden for those few days of the imperial examinations.”

Twenty years into the Wen and Shang dynasty, on the seventeenth day of the first month of spring, at the fourth watch of the night.

Yang Youan got up early, dressed in his examination robes, and tidied his appearance in front of the bronze mirror in his room. He then put his writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone into his examination bag, placed it on the table, and then opened the door, looking at the stone tables at the far end of the backyard.

"Brother Zhang, you've arrived so early?" Yang You'an approached Zhang Ze'an, looking at the jade pot-shaped vase with its flared mouth, slender neck, large belly, and ring foot on the stone table, the doucai bamboo-patterned cups already set out and filled with wine, and the folding fan he never parted with. He laughed, "What, Brother Zhang, are you here to see me off?" "What do you mean, 'see me off'? I'm here to look after the house, not to see you off to your death." Upon hearing the words "see me off," Zhang Ze'an patted Yang You'an on the shoulder, muttering, "I was afraid I'd be bored here, so I brought some wine with me. Also, why do you guys like to put things in the corners of this pear orchard? I climbed over the wall from outside, and if I hadn't reacted quickly, I would have fallen into the water vat."

"Brother Zhang, please forgive me. Those water vats in the courtyard were placed there for the convenience of watering the flowers," Yang Youan said with a fist and palm salute to the man standing at the table. Then, without any hesitation, he picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"That's awesome!" Zhang Ze'an gave Yang You'an a thumbs up, shook his head with a helpless smile, took a small sip, and said, "That's really bold. You actually dare to drink the strongest liquor like that."

"What do you mean?" Yang Youan found it strange. This wine had no taste at all, so why would Brother Zhang say it was strong?
"This wine is called Shangsangan, and it was brewed by a famous winemaker from the South. It has a light taste, is not harsh on the throat, has no initial swirl, and no aftertaste; it's practically like water."

As Zhang Ze'an introduced the wine, Yang You'an found it even more puzzling, "If that's the case, why does Brother Zhang say it's strong?"

Zhang Ze'an smiled maliciously, "Because this wine is called 'Three Sticks'!"

"Three bars up? What's wrong with that name?" Yang Youan was even more confused. He frowned and looked at Zhang Ze'an with a slightly ferocious expression.

"Do you know what it means when the sun is high in the sky?" Zhang Ze'an asked with a smile.

Yang Youan nodded: "I know."

"This wine is for helping you sleep." Seeing his expression, Zhang Ze'an stopped teasing him. "After three cups, you'll sleep until the sun is high in the sky the next day."

"Huh?" Yang Youan looked at the wine cup in his hand in confusion, then at the almost untouched wine on the stone table left by Zhang Ze'an, and exclaimed excitedly, "No... Brother Zhang, aren't you... aren't you trying to get me into trouble? If I fall asleep during the exam today, won't I be unable to even get my name mentioned?"

"Hey! Why are you so nervous?" Zhang Ze'an nonchalantly picked up his glass again and took a small sip. "Did you hear me say I slept through the night after a few drinks?"

"Three cups?" Yang Youan said hesitantly.

“So one cup won’t hurt,” Zhang Ze’an said, picking up his folding fan, flicking it open, and then leisurely fanning himself. “At most, you’ll sleep for an hour or two. So don’t get sleepy during the exam, or the result will be the same.”

"Brother Zhang, aren't you still hurting me?" Yang You'an was a little angry. He looked at Zhang Ze'an with a resentful expression, as if to say, "If I really fell asleep, I will haunt you even after I die."

Yang Youan's expression made Zhang Ze'an laugh uncontrollably. "Alright, alright, I'm not teasing you anymore. This is actually just water. I added some wine because I was afraid you'd get nervous. Look how anxious you are. Now I understand why Wenren liked to tease you so much, and I also understand why you had conflicts with him."

"What do you mean?" Yang Youan looked at Zhang Ze'an with some confusion and asked.

Zhang Ze'an countered, "Do you remember the time you had a conflict with Wenren before?"

Yang Youan thought for a moment and then said, "I remember."

"Do you still remember what Wenren said to you back then, and how you had a falling out with him?"

Yang Youan thought carefully for a moment and said, "I remember Brother Li saying..."

(End of this chapter)