I became an immortal in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 185 Confucianism, Chivalry, and Immortalism (+16)

The Du family lit lamps and looked at the night sky. The uncle and nephew had come to Yanzhou to broaden their horizons and witness the grand spectacle of the emperor's Fengshan ceremony.

I never expected to meet someone like Mr. Jiang...

Perhaps only true immortals and gods could have the brilliant Li Bai by their side.

Staying up late tonight to celebrate the New Year.

The uncle and nephew were traveling and living a simple life, accompanied only by a servant. Although it was New Year's Eve, all three of them were somewhat listless.

Suddenly, Du Langjun made a suggestion.

"Why don't we stay up all night with the neighbors next door?"

Du Fu agreed to his uncle's suggestion almost immediately.

When the three knocked on the door, Li Bai and Yuan Danqiu were sitting at the table, gazing at the night sky and muttering to themselves.

"Why hasn't the master returned yet?"

"It's been five or six days already, surely the master hasn't left?"

"No, the gentleman is not that kind of person. Even if he were to leave, he would have told us."

The two of them were lazy and only lit the lamp. On the table was a plate of cured meat that Pei Ze had sent, as well as New Year's gifts from the Du family—also cured meat.

The gentleman has not returned for several days.

The two were so lazy that they didn't even hang any peach wood charms outside the door.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

The two hurried forward and, upon seeing that it was a member of the Du family, Li Bai, though somewhat disappointed, greeted them with a smile: "You two have arrived!"

The cold night was lonely, and the sound of a baby crying could be heard in the evening breeze.

The group relaxed and sat cross-legged on the mat. The Du family not only brought people over, but also a lot of good wine and food, and even some vegetables that are rarely seen in winter. They said that the vegetables were sent by a friend and were specially grown near the hot springs so that they could grow even in winter.

It was piled high on the table.

A fragrant aroma wafts over.

Li Bai drank his wine and talked about his travels with his teacher. He also mentioned that there was a reason why the house was haunted. Every night, spirits would appear in the courtyard, imitating humans, feasting, making merry, drinking wine, and composing poems.

Du Fu's eyes widened as he listened.

"Really?"

Yuan Danqiu laughed from the side, "Young master, please don't take offense."

Du Fu was curious when he suddenly heard a strange, faint sound.

"It is you!"

He instinctively searched around, and after a long while, he discovered that the sound was coming from the screen. Du Langjun was also astonished, listening to the screen's radiant voice.

“A while ago, we had some really delicious fish soup, which Mr. Jiang treated us to.”

Then another sound came from outside.

"It's a fish from the sky!"

Du Langjun suddenly remembered that only Li Bai and Yuan Danqiu were drinking together during the New Year, so he asked, "Where is Mr. Jiang?"

Just as Li Bai was about to sigh, he said, "Sir, you've gone out."

Then I heard a familiar sound.

"It seems Jiang arrived at just the right time!"

Jiang She returned through the snow.

He had just returned to the courtyard when he heard a voice asking. For some reason, the door to the main room hadn't been closed. Looking around, he saw a table full of delicacies, several of which were untouched and clearly reserved for him.

Li Bai suddenly stood up, and several people rose to greet him.

Jiang She, dressed in frost-colored clothes and still in his blue robe, carrying a lantern, smiled at them and said, "Young Master Du and Young Master Du have also arrived."

Several people sat at the table.

Li Bai asked, "Where have you gone, sir?"

Jiang She sat down at the table, took out a teacup, and saw that the table was full of food and wine. He was also a little hungry after not eating for several days. "I was invited by Master Guo to meet the King of Qi and his son. They died."

Du Langjun raised his head.

"Wasn't Prince Qi recuperating at the imperial palace? He actually passed away?"

Jiang She nodded.

"Yes."

The three members of the Du family began to ponder this.

The imperial palace was far from here, and the journey was windy and dusty, yet Mr. Jiang was spotless, without a speck of dust on him. The imperial palace was not a place ordinary people could enter, and Mr. Jiang did not explain how he saw it.

A huge wave of emotions surged within the three of them...

Zhang Guolao was standing nearby.

"Today, sir, you have truly shown me something."

"As expected of my good friend."

He sniffed it.

"Alas, there is no fine wine."

Zhang Guolao reached out and untied a wine pot from his waist. He then demonstrated his skill by tapping the outside of the pot, causing wine to flow out as if he had found a wine cup himself.

In the blink of an eye, the cups in front of them were filled with wine.

The wine has a sweet and refreshing aroma that, when inhaled, instantly clears the mind.

The Du family uncle and nephew looked on in surprise, while the Du family servants stared intently at their cups with reverence.

Zhang Guolao laughed again.

"What a pity, there are no beautiful views."

As he spoke, the withered soapberry trees outside seemed to feel an itch, and quickly sprouted tender leaves. In just a few dozen breaths, they grew from withered branches into lush and leafy trees, and even blossomed.

Under the cover of night, the greenery was lush and verdant, rustling softly in the cool breeze.

Du Langjun stared at the tree, startled, and dropped his chopsticks.

Zhang Guolao glanced at them with a smile, then raised his hand, and the chopsticks fell back into Du Langjun's hand.

He laughed loudly.

"It's just a bunch of petty tricks!"

"Compared to your supernatural powers and magic, which can influence the Five Sacred Mountains and enlighten the mind with just a casual remark, I am merely a child reciting in front of a scholar. Haha, don't be surprised, don't be surprised."

As Zhang Guolao spoke, he glanced at Jiang She, keeping his thoughts to himself, clearly harboring some ulterior motives.

He can't compare to Mr. Jiang, but he can still show off in front of ordinary people and little monsters.

Zhang Guolao picked up his wine cup and smiled at the astonished crowd.

"in this way."

"There is fine wine and beautiful scenery."

"On the first day of the Lunar New Year, heaven and earth are pure and clear."

"Gentlemen, please drink!"

That night, they all got very drunk. The wine was fragrant and refreshing, and drinking it made them feel cleansed all over. It tasted even better than the fine wine they had drunk at the Earth God's place.

Jiang She loved Zhang Guolao's fine wine so much that he drank more than he should, and planned to ask for a few more jugs later.

Li Bai and Yuan Danqiu also got very drunk.

The wine was fragrant and enticing; even the youngest Du Fu drank a cup, his eyes glazed over, uttering drunken ramblings.

Jiang She heard this.

It refers to the family I saw carrying the pole in front of the City God Temple.

A strong man holds up a long pole, on which several children climb and imitate their mothers doing handstands. Sometimes the pole hangs precariously, and they could fall at any moment. This attracts a lot of reward money.

This is their skill for making a living.

That might be the reason he died.

Zhang Guolao overheard this and asked, "What does the young man think?"

Du Fu was already drunk; he wouldn't have spoken so frankly on a normal day.

He thought about it.

Drunkard.

“If I were an official, I would allocate land to poor households and displaced people, encourage farmers to plant mulberry trees, and give people more ways to make a living, so that they would not have to play such a dangerous game that could cost them their lives because they are poor and have no land to cultivate.”

"I wish to serve as an official and protect the poor people of the world."

His uncle, Du Langjun, nodded, looking at his nephew with satisfaction.

The Du family had a dozen or so sons and grandsons, but only Du Fu was taken by his side on his travels, simply because Du Fu was not only talented in literature and insightful, but also had a deep compassion for the common people.

The monk agreed.

Jiang She listened and laughed.

"This is the essence of Confucianism and Taoism."

Li Bai and Yuan Danqiu, upon hearing Du Fu's words, also recalled what they had seen that day.

He had drunk Zhang Guolao's fine wine and was also drunk.

"Why wait so long? If I had a penny, I would save one person."

“Next time they’re playing around there, I’ll give them several dozen strings of cash, enough to live comfortably for ten years. They can then plan their future carefully and won’t do such risky things.”

Yuan Danqiu nodded in agreement.

"That's good."

Nearby, the ethereal spirits also looked over, wondering how quickly it had happened.

Jiang She raised his glass to drink, thought for a moment, and then said with a smile.

"This is the way of chivalry."

Under the night.

Li Bai's eyes were bright. He suddenly bowed and looked at the immortal who was drinking wine. He mustered up his courage and asked for guidance.

"What would you do, sir?"

He sought guidance from the immortals.

【Ask for monthly ticket】

(End of this chapter)