Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 25 The Way of the Gentleman

The old man seemed not to hear him and had already come forward, grabbed the net rope, and started pulling him backward.

The thick hemp rope creaked and twisted under the strain, and Shen Yuan felt a growing anxiety.

With such force, could the net have caught a crocodile?
That's really bad luck; the fishing net is probably doomed.

The two men were locked in a stalemate with the creature in the water for a long time, and eventually managed to pull the net back little by little.

As the fishing net slowly surfaced, the thing caught in it began to struggle violently. Amidst the splashing water, Shen Yuan could vaguely see a bluish-gray color.

"It's a crocodile!"

Bang!
As soon as he finished speaking, the net rope in his hand broke suddenly because it could no longer support him.

As the creature tumbled and dragged the fishing net away, Shen Yuan's face darkened.

This is a huge loss; we didn't manage to reel in any fish, and we even lost the net.

Unlike his dejection, the old man behind him was watching the struggling alligator in the pool, his eyes slightly narrowed and a smile playing on his lips.

Shen Yuan sighed and took out the twenty taels of silver that hadn't even warmed up yet from his pocket, handing it to the old man.

"Sir, here's your money back."

The two had agreed on the catch from this third net.

But the current situation is that he has lost the catch from this third net, so he naturally can't keep the money.

"What are you doing, young man?" The old man didn't take the silver, but chuckled and said, "There have always been rumors that there are alligators in this Blackwater Pool. Today, my brother and I almost caught one. This experience alone is interesting enough."

"Besides, young man, you even broke your fishing net for this, so I can't take the money."

He waved his hand, then pointed to the several bluefish on the tree and said, "Young brother, do you still stand by what you said before?"

Shen Yuan was stunned for a moment, then quickly came over and picked out two large bluefish.

"Hehe...Thanks."

The old man, carrying two grass carp, nodded with satisfaction: "Young man, will you be coming here to fish again soon?"

Shen Yuan said uncertainly, "We'll see. We'll have to buy a new fishing net first."

The old man nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk away.

On the distant water, the alligator trapped in the net was still struggling to break free, the huge commotion causing the water to splash everywhere.

Shen Yuan glanced at the fish, then reluctantly picked up his catch and headed towards Jinliu Village.

He hadn't been gone long when the old man turned back. Gazing at the crocodile still churning on the water, the old man lightly touched the ground with his toes and floated over.

Shen Yuan naturally didn't see this scene.

When he returned home, Hu Yufen greeted him and, seeing the fish he was carrying, said with some surprise, "Husband, you have a good catch today."

Shen Yuan threw all the fish into the wooden basin and sighed, "Don't even mention it, we lost the fishing net too."

He briefly recounted what had happened at Blackwater Pool, and Hu Yufen was horrified upon hearing it.

I've always heard that the giant alligator and python in Blackwater Pool are very ferocious and can swallow people and livestock whole. I never thought that my husband would actually catch one today!
"It's good that everyone is alright. We can buy another internet connection."

Hu Yufen comforted him, still somewhat shaken, then became curious.

"Where is that old man from, that he's so generous?"

Twenty taels of silver is no small sum.

Hearing this, Shen Yuan was also a little curious. He had heard of most of the wealthy people in the surrounding villages, but the old man was a complete stranger.

After thinking about it for a while, I still didn't know where the old man came from.

"Never mind, Master Lu loves fish, I'll send him two first."

After handing the silver to Hu Yufen, Shen Yuan carried the two bluefish he had chosen beforehand and walked towards Lu Zhiyuan's courtyard.

Meanwhile, in the pavilion in the courtyard, Lu Zhiyuan sat with an unusually stern expression.

Anu, standing before him, hung her head, as if she had made a mistake, her eyes occasionally glancing at the mute man beside her, hoping he would plead for her.

Upon seeing this, the mute man quickly shook his head.

"A rough stone contains brilliance, and its brilliance is not hidden by the depth of the mountain; a virtuous person embraces simplicity, and his brilliance is not altered by the turbid world."

"Gentleness resides in the bones, and one's character shines like the sun and moon; this is the way to cultivate one's nature!" "Still water reflects actions but is merely a superficial appearance; a deep pool reflects the heart of heaven; those who cultivate themselves should build a nine-zhang-deep pool to hold the North Star!"

"If a gentleman does not cultivate himself, how can he travel the world?"

"Do you know you were wrong?"

Hearing the stern voice, Anu quickly cupped her hands and said, "This student knows her mistake. Please punish me, Master."

After saying that, he carefully extended his palm.

Seeing this, Lu Zhiyuan grabbed the ruler beside him and slapped his little hand three times.

The little guy grimaced in pain, but didn't dare to make a sound.

"Go and copy down my words word for word, so that you may study them carefully and keep them in mind."

After the punishment, Lu Zhiyuan's tone softened slightly.

Anu quickly clasped her hands in greeting, enduring the burning pain in her palms, and knelt down in front of the desk, beginning to carefully write down what Lu Zhiyuan had said.

"Sir, the mute man."

At this moment, Shen Yuan had already stood at the entrance of the courtyard.

He had seen Lu Zhiyuan's reprimand and punishment, but he did not speak up to stop him because he believed that only a strict teacher could produce good students.

Anu has a free-spirited personality and definitely needs to cultivate her character and make some changes.

Upon seeing his arrival, Lu Zhiyuan stood up and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

"I caught some fish at Blackwater Pool today. Since you like fish, I brought you two to try."

Shen Yuan raised the fish in his hand and smiled.

Seeing this, the mute man hurriedly took the two fish and headed towards the kitchen.

Lu Zhiyuan walked out of the pavilion, with Shen Yuan following behind him.

The two arrived outside the courtyard, and Shen Yuan cupped his hands in greeting: "Anu, you've been naughty and angered the teacher?"

Lu Zhiyuan sighed slightly, turned around and said, "Young Brother Shen, do you think I've been too harsh on Anu?"

Shen Yuan quickly shook his head: "Master Yan, it is Anu's good fortune."

“I am but a commoner and do not understand the ways of a gentleman, but I know that one must be strict with oneself and lenient with others; this is the essence of self-cultivation.”

"Master, if a child is raised but not taught, it is the father's fault. It is my fault for not educating him well. Please don't be angry."

His answer surprised Lu Zhiyuan.

“Brother Shen, I have lived in seclusion in Jinliu Village for six years and have observed that most of the villagers are ignorant and uncouth. People like you are quite rare.”

Shen Yuan quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "I am also a rough and uncouth person. I was educated in a village private school when I was young. I was playful when I was young and forgot most of it in a few years."

"Later, I was fortunate enough to meet my wife, and under her influence day and night, I heard some of the words of sages and saints, which I am sorry to have made you laugh at me."

He could only come up with a reason, attributing all of this to Hu Yufen.

Anyway, her status as a "rich girl" was no secret in the village.

Lu Zhiyuan suddenly realized.

The two chatted for a while longer before Shen Yuan hurried home.

After lunch, with nothing else to do, Shen Yuan thought he should hurry to town to buy another fishing net.

Before the weather gets completely cold, there's still a chance to go fishing a few more times.

However, as he was driving the oxcart past Blackwater Pool, a thought suddenly popped into his mind: he wanted to see if the alligator dragon trapped in the fishing net had escaped.

After parking the oxcart some distance from the Blackwater Pool, Shen Yuan quietly approached the high slope beside the pool. From afar, he could see ferocious alligators resting on the rocks around the pool.

He didn't dare to get close. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he suddenly noticed a tattered fishing net hanging on a bush not far ahead!

Shen Yuan frowned, recognizing the fishing net as his own at a glance.

He cautiously approached and pulled the fishing net down, only to find it stained with blood and had a large gash cut by a sharp weapon.

The entire net was in a terrible state.

(End of this chapter)