After the divorce, he went on a motorcycle trip, and his ex-wife and daughter were filled with regre

Jiang Ye quickly got up and took the porcelain basin from him, placing it steadily on the stone table under the grape trellis.

In the basin was a large pot of steaming stewed fish heads.

"The wild bighead carp that was just caught weighs seven or eight pounds. In this remote wilderness, there aren't any complicated seasonings, just some scallions, ginger, garlic and salt, just the original flavor."

As he spoke, Lao Yu turned around and went back into the house, where he took out two sets of bowls and chopsticks, as well as a white plastic bucket without any labels.

Jiang Ye looked down into the basin.

The fish head occupied most of the porcelain bowl, and the broth was simmered until it was as white and thick as milk, with a few bright green scallions and cilantro floating on top, making it look incredibly appetizing.

"Try it." Old Yu handed Jiang Ye a soup spoon.

Jiang Ye didn't stand on ceremony. He scooped up a spoonful of milky white fish soup, blew on it to cool it down, and put it in his mouth.

fresh!

The freshest of all!

Without any MSG or chicken bouillon, the flavor comes entirely from the natural sweetness and freshness of the wild fish. The fish soup is rich and smooth, flowing down the throat and into the stomach, instantly dispelling the fatigue and chill of a day's cycling.

"It's so delicious!"

Jiang Ye couldn't help but give a thumbs up, exclaiming sincerely, "Brother Yu, your cooking is amazing! I've never had such fresh fish soup in any of the five-star hotels in Hanzhou!"

"Haha, five-star hotels are all about the lavishness, we're here for the novelty."

Old Yu laughed heartily, unscrewed the white plastic bucket, and immediately, a strong aroma of grain liquor wafted out.

"Our homemade pure grain liquor has a high alcohol content, is it okay to drink some?"

"Yes!" Jiang Ye nodded without hesitation.

After a long day of running around, I'm sitting in this quiet courtyard in the wilderness, enjoying the evening breeze and fish soup. It would be a shame not to have a couple of bites of this wonderful atmosphere.

Old Yu poured each of them a full glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor).

"Come on, it's fate that we met, let's have a toast!"

"Dry!"

The rough porcelain wine glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.

Jiang Ye tilted his head back and took a big gulp.

The strong liquor went down my throat like a fire, burning down my esophagus, spicy yet with a hint of the unique sweetness of grain.

The two ate the tender fish head meat while drinking strong liquor.

After a few drinks, the night deepened.

A bright moon rises from the mountaintop across the lake, its cool light spilling into the courtyard and coating the grape trellis with a layer of silver frost.

When slightly tipsy, people are always most likely to let their guard down.

A blush crept onto Lao Yu's cheeks. Holding his wine glass, his eyes became somewhat unfocused as he gazed at the shimmering lake outside the courtyard under the moonlight. He finally began to speak.

"Young man, weren't you curious before why I was fishing in this desolate wilderness?"

Old Yu's voice became somewhat low, carrying a hint of deep vicissitude.

Jiang Ye put down his chopsticks and looked at him quietly without saying a word.

"Actually, I wasn't a fisherman before."

Old Yu chuckled self-deprecatingly, tilted his head back, and downed the remaining wine in his glass in one gulp. "I used to be a professor in the Chinese department of a prestigious university in the south."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ye's pupils contracted sharply.

University professor? !

Although he had guessed that Lao Yu was not a simple person, as he was refined in speech and knowledgeable, he never expected that the other party would actually be a professor of Chinese literature at a top university!

These are true intellectuals, social elites!

"Surprised?"

Looking at Jiang Ye's shocked expression, Old Yu shook his head with a wry smile. "Yeah, who would have thought that a dignified university professor would end up in this godforsaken place, working as a fisherman covered in fish odors?"

Jiang Ye picked up the bottle, refilled Lao Yu's glass, and asked softly, "Why?"

Old Yu stared at the slightly swirling liquid in his glass, remaining silent for a long time.

Just when Jiang Ye thought he wouldn't speak again, Old Yu slowly uttered two words.

"woman."

Jiang Ye was stunned.

"Because of a woman."

Old Yu's voice revealed a deep-seated pain and helplessness.

"We were classmates in college, we did our undergraduate and master's degrees together, and then we stayed on to teach at the same university. We liked each other, and we liked each other for a full ten years."

Old Yu's eyes softened, as if he were seeing the figure that had once haunted his dreams.

"She likes Li Qingzhao, so I studied Song Dynasty poetry with her; she likes the sea, so I saved up half a year's salary to take her to Sanya. We've even thought about names for our future children..."

At this point, Lao Yu's voice suddenly choked up.

He closed his eyes in pain, clutching his hair tightly with both hands.

"But we can't be together."

"Her family is a well-known and prestigious family in the area, while I am just a poor boy who came from a remote mountain area. Her parents absolutely disagreed with the marriage and even threatened to kill themselves."

In the end, she gave in.

A single, cloudy tear slid down Old Yu's cheek.

"She married the son of a high-ranking local official. It was a perfect match, and she enjoyed immense prestige."

Jiang Ye listened quietly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

This kind of forced separation of lovers is not uncommon in real life. But it seems particularly cruel in the case of Lao Yu, a writer who values ​​relationships and loyalty.

I didn't go to her wedding.

Old Yu took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "I was alone in the faculty dormitory, completely drunk. I thought time would heal everything, I thought I could slowly let go."

"But I was wrong."

Old Yu suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with painful struggle.

"As long as I'm still in that city, as long as I walk on the tree-lined paths of the campus, I'll think of her. I don't even dare to go shopping or go to restaurants, because I'm afraid... afraid that I'll see her holding hands with another man and smiling at another man at some corner."

"It felt like someone was taking a dull knife and cutting my heart piece by piece. Even breathing hurt."

Old Yu picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Later, I just couldn't take it anymore."

"I resigned."

"I gave up my professorship, gave up the generous benefits, packed a bag, and left that suffocating city."

"I wandered around and went to many places. Until about half a year ago, I was riding my motorcycle and accidentally wandered into this wilderness and saw this lake."

Old Yu pointed to the wild lake outside the courtyard, and a relieved smile finally appeared on his face.

"Looking at this calm lake, my heart suddenly calmed down."

"I simply bought a few abandoned houses here and renovated them myself. I work from sunrise to sunset every day, fishing and drinking tea."

"Only in this place can I feel that I am still alive, and only here can I feel peace in my heart."