Longevity, starting from traveling and telling stories

Chapter 187: Ten Years of Life and Death

After Ye Aniu had packed up, he quickly walked out of the room and headed towards the front hall of the inn.

The shopkeeper immediately beamed, reached out and held his shoulder, and said enthusiastically, "Hey! Mr. Ye, come here, I've prepared some light wine, please do me a favor."

Ye Aniu was slightly startled, wondering if this guy wanted to hire him as a storyteller? It seemed that even if he failed the exam this time, he could still make a living.

"No." He bowed in return and said, "Thank you, Shopkeeper Dai. In this case, I will respectfully obey your command."

The provincial capital of Fengtian Prefecture is much more prosperous than Qingshi Town. Ye Aniu had heard of the champion wine of Jieyuanlou before.

The Jieyuan Building has three floors, each with a different consumption level.

As soon as I reached the second floor, I heard a noisy conversation. Someone was studying literature in a pretentious manner.

Some people are even discussing "The Case of the Chopping of the Beauty".

"It is said that Qin Xianglian received a favor from Mr. Bao and returned to her hometown to raise her child alone."

"Oh, that's right! In troubled times, it's really not easy for a woman to raise two children."

"That's right. Not to mention women, it's difficult even for men."

Hearing that someone was discussing his story, Ye Aniu was secretly happy.

"Mr. Ye's story has touched people's hearts. These students are all well-read, yet they were all moved. This shows how talented he is!"

The shopkeeper praised calmly. Actually, he said that just because he wanted Ye Aniu to tell more stories. It was normal for a businessman to have such thoughts.

"Just some literary flair."

Ye Aniu understood that the shopkeeper wanted to use this method to satisfy his vanity. He had to admit that the businessman was indeed shrewd, but he was not stupid either, so he naturally saw through his thoughts.

The shopkeeper was a shrewd man. He knew that Ye Aniu was being modest, so he didn't praise him any more.

Soon, the two of them arrived at the private room on the third floor. The room was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, and it was obvious that it was a place to entertain distinguished guests.

It seems that the shopkeeper has invested a lot of money.

"Come, come, sir, please take a seat. Here are our Jieyuanlou's signature cakes and the famous Zhuangyuan wine from the Great Zhou Dynasty."

The elegant aroma of the wine in front of me proves that this wine is worthy of its reputation. The table is full of food with good color, aroma and taste.

Ye Aniu can drink a decent amount of alcohol, but he doesn’t really like it. He can drink or not.

But now there is no oil in my stomach, so I feel a little hungry.

"You're welcome, Mr. Ye. Come, come, try our Jieyuanlou's signature osmanthus cake." The shopkeeper gestured with his hand.

Ye Aniu was not polite either. He was indeed hungry, so he picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and took a bite.

As you take a bite, a light sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance instantly spreads in your mouth, and the pastry is soft and crispy.

"Delicious!" Ye Aniu couldn't help but praise: "Boss, let's eat together."

"Mr. Ye, you're joking. I eat these things every day and I'm already tired of them."

Tired of eating? That's right, you will get tired of eating it all the time, just like no matter how beautiful a goddess is, there will be times when people don't want to get close to her. Ye Aniu expressed his understanding.

Ye Ah Niu was no longer polite. He thought, "The world is big, but a full stomach is the most important thing!" He ate a few cakes and tried some of Jieyuanlou's signature dishes. In one word, it was amazing!

Seeing that it was almost done, the shopkeeper poured a glass of wine for Ye Aniu and himself, then held up the glass and said respectfully: "Sir, I offer you a glass of wine. You have really made me shine."

After a pause, the shopkeeper drank it all in one gulp.

"I have been managing this Jieyuan Building for over twenty years. I have a pretty sharp eye and have enjoyed drinks with many high-ranking officials of the current dynasty."

After finishing his drink, the shopkeeper continued, "Back then, when my Jieyuan Lou had just opened, the then Minister of Revenue came here to take the provincial examination. He was also in a rather down-and-out situation like you, sir. I drank with him here and even gave him some travel expenses."

The shopkeeper's orderly retelling confirmed Ye Aniu's guess.

It turned out that the shopkeeper had developed a sharp eye in Jieyuanlou over the years, and the people he favored would definitely become extraordinary in the future.

After these people became officials, their net worth doubled. As the saying goes, when one person succeeds, the whole family will benefit. Their calligraphy works also became priceless.

Because of the good relationships it had established, Jieyuanlou was praised by many high-ranking officials in the court and its fame grew.

Although their calligraphy is not a golden ticket to immunity from death, as long as Jieyuanlou does not do anything bad, anyone who wants to touch it will have to think twice, after all, it is equivalent to slapping the faces of many ministers in the court.

The last person that Manager Dai of Jieyuanlou took a fancy to was Lord Zhongkang, and that was ten years ago. Now he has taken a fancy to another person, Ye Aniu.

The shopkeeper saw that Ye Aniu was short of money, but hoped that he could leave a story and nomination. If he could get his calligraphy, Jieyuanlou would be able to establish a good relationship with a future official.

After hearing what the shopkeeper said, Ye Aniu chuckled and asked, "Shopkeeper, do you think it's possible for me to get into high school?"

The shopkeeper laughed heartily and said, "No, no, I wouldn't be wrong. Sir, you are destined to be rich and noble."

After saying this, the shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and decided to get to the point.

"I wonder if you could write a calligraphy article for my Jieyuanlou?"

Hehe! Finally here, let’s get to the point! Ye Aniu remained calm.

In fact, he didn't know what kind of article to write. He was used to being casual and didn't put much effort into studying. The only reason he dared to take the exam was because of a book that no one else could see.

He chuckled and said that he wanted to write an article, but he had no idea what type of article to write, so he could only respond with an awkward smile.

The shopkeeper was a shrewd man. Seeing that Ye Aniu just smiled and said nothing, he thought that he might not want to be too high-profile.

"I'm actually not a very talented person." Ye Aniu thought it was better to tell the truth and tell him that he had misjudged him this time and that he really did not have any talent.

"I was able to compile this story just by chance. If the shopkeeper needs a certain type, I can think about it."

No talent? How could he be untalented if he could invent such a story? The shopkeeper naturally didn't believe it, thinking he was just being modest.

"To be honest, sir, my wife passed away young! I hope you can write an article about missing her, is that okay?"

Missing his wife? Ye Aniu's eyes suddenly showed tenderness. Youlan must be waiting for him to come back too! Hehe!

"May I consider this for a moment?"

Think for a moment? Or even a day! Shopkeeper Dai was immediately overjoyed and bowed, saying, "Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir."

Then he shouted to the outside of the door, "Waiter, quickly bring the pen, ink, paper and inkstone."

The shopkeeper seemed to have been prepared, and soon the waiter came in with the four treasures of the study.

Ye Aniu smiled bitterly and helplessly. It turned out that free things in the world are the most expensive. Fortunately, he has a magical book. What can he write?

He closed his eyes and communicated with the divine book. The book stood in the air in front of him and automatically turned the pages quickly. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head and he began to write.

As he began to write, the shopkeeper followed him and read softly: "Jiangchengzi - Dream Recorded on the Night of the Twentieth Day of the First Month of Yimao" (from Su Shi)
"Ten years of life and death are boundless, unforgettable without thinking."

Yes! That’s how I feel. The shopkeeper’s eyes started to mist over!
Ye Aniu continued to write furiously.

The shopkeeper followed suit, murmured softly, each word emphasizing: "A thousand miles away from my lonely grave, I have no one to talk to about my desolation. Even if we met, I would not recognize you, my face covered with dust, my hair like frost."

The shopkeeper touched the gray hair on his temples and thought of the scene on the lonely grave every Qingming Festival. Isn’t this exactly what he was thinking about?

He continued to recite: "Last night, a dream suddenly brought me back to my hometown. I was sitting by the window, dressing myself."

When he read this, he was already in tears, and his eyes looked towards the window involuntarily, as if he saw his wife sitting in front of the window dressing, waiting for his return home.

"We looked at each other without words, only tears streaming down our faces. I guess I'll be heartbroken year after year."

"Ah!" the shopkeeper sighed, and after reading the last part, he burst into tears. This article vividly described his feelings of missing his deceased wife.

"Sir." He bowed, then knelt on the ground and said, "Sir, I am very grateful for your gift of books."

"Oh, oh, oh! I can't do that. I can't do that." Ye Aniu quickly helped Shopkeeper Dai up and said apologetically, "You are several decades older than me. If you kneel down, I'm afraid it will shorten my lifespan. Besides, you've already exempted me from food and lodging!"

The shopkeeper was helped up by him, and he wiped his tears with his sleeve happily, then said, "I wonder if you would allow me to hang this book down here? I can read it often."

"No problem!" It was just an article. Since he had the magic book, he could definitely write many excellent articles. Ye Aniu agreed without thinking.

"In that case, thank you very much, sir." Then he turned to the waiter and said, "Quick, prepare a gold frame for it and hang it in the most conspicuous place in the inn."

The waiter carefully took the article away and closed the door gently.

"Come, come, sir, you were just having fun." The shopkeeper pulled Ye Aniu to the table and sat him down as if he were a brother, saying, "Please have a few drinks, sir."

the other side.

It was getting dark.

In the Fengtian Prefecture Imperial Examination Hall.

In a simple house, candlelight flickered and Zhongkang was sitting at the table handling official business.

"Knock knock knock", there was a knock on the door.

Zhongkang paused and said in a deep voice, "Come in."

The door creaked open, and a servant tiptoed in. He bowed slightly and said, "Sir, Ye Aniu, whom you asked me to watch, has written an article titled 'Jiang Cheng Zi'. It has caused quite a stir, and many students have praised it highly."

Zhongkang raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard this.

He put down the brush in his hand and asked, "Do you have a handwritten copy?"

He wanted to see what kind of outstanding article this storyteller Ye Aniu could write? Would it be pretentious or cynical?

The servant hurriedly took out the handwritten copy that had been prepared long ago and presented it with both hands.

Zhongkang took it casually and glanced at it casually.

However, when he saw the first sentence "Ten years of life and death, I can't forget you even if I don't think about you", his whole heart was shaken.

This simple sentence, like a sharp thorn, pierced into the soft spot in his heart that had been buried for a long time.

"Wanjun..." Zhongkang couldn't help but say his wife's name, and his eyes even began to redden.

As if time had flown by, Wanjun's every smile and frown flashed through his mind. He seemed to see Wanjun's gentle smile again.

"Sir? Are you crying?" The servant noticed something was wrong and said hurriedly.

Zhong Kang's thoughts were pulled back, and he realized that he had lost his composure, and his expression immediately returned to calm.

He reached out and wiped away his tears calmly, saying, "Maybe there's sand in my eyes."

After saying that, he took a deep breath, and after his emotions calmed down, his eyes became calm again.

After a moment, he said slowly and in a low voice, "Keep watching him. If anything happens, report to me immediately."

"Yes." The servant responded, bowed slightly again, took a few steps back, and gently closed the door.

the other side.

Inside the Jieyuanlou Inn.

The night grew darker, and the silver moonlight poured down, illuminating the plaque of Jieyuan Building with exceptional brightness.

The lights in Jieyuan Building were on, and everyone gathered together, pointing and commenting on an article and praising it highly.

There was a man standing quietly next to him. It was the emperor's uncle Zhang Fulu. His eyes were fixed on the article, thinking deeply.

Although he was the emperor's uncle and held a high position of power, he lived alone all his life without a wife or children.

Although he has been an official in the court for many years and has remained calm even when faced with a crisis, he does have a soft spot in his heart.

That was the innocent heartbeat of youth.

Perhaps, this is the first love in a man’s heart. No matter how many years have passed, it is still hard to forget.

Now, he puts all his energy into raising his deceased sister's daughter. It can be said that the eldest princess is his own daughter.

The more he appreciated the writings on the wall, the more he felt that this person had amazing literary talent, as if his wife had really died!
If the scholar the princess favors has such outstanding literary talent, it wouldn't be unacceptable...

Thinking of this, he lowered his head slightly and said to the extremely handsome "young man" next to him: "If this person performs well in the exam this time, I can make the decision..."

When the princess heard this, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she said in a panic, "Uncle, I've already said, no..."

The uncle smiled nonchalantly and said, "Who do you think I am? I've watched you grow up, how could I not understand you?"

"There are so many talented and handsome men in the capital. When have you ever been polite to any of them?"

"Let's not talk about the distant past, let's just talk about Cui Mingyuan and Li Qingyun. Which one of them is not a dragon and phoenix among men? But what is your attitude towards them?"

The eldest princess frowned slightly and said calmly, "Uncle, do you think they really like me?"

Her tone was cold, and it was obvious that she knew what those people were thinking.

"That's true." The uncle nodded slightly and said, "The Li family is extremely ambitious and has always wanted to seize the country. Their intentions behind their friendly gestures towards the princess are self-evident."

"Although Cui Mingyuan is deeply in love with you, he is a man of calculations, cunning, and extremely cruel. He is definitely not suitable for you."

"Alas, it's really not easy to find a man for you who is as smart as Cui Mingyuan, who is indifferent to fame and fortune, and who you care deeply about."

His eyes revealed joy. His niece's lifelong event was finally settled. However, the court was like a den of dragons and tigers. Could you withstand their attacks?
the other side.

After eating and drinking his fill, Ye Aniu touched his bloated belly.

The shopkeeper never expected that this seemingly frail scholar could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. He claimed that he almost couldn't bear it even if he kept drinking.

"Excuse me, sir, do you have any more stories to tell?" The shopkeeper bowed and said respectfully, "If you have any, let's..."

Ye Aniu had just communicated with the divine book, and there was indeed a story in his mind, which fits the situation.

So he didn't act pretentiously and said calmly: "In that case, I'd better obey your command respectfully."

After the two of them had eaten and drunk their fill and chatted about some unimportant things, they went downstairs side by side, the shopkeeper looking very respectful.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Dai, for your hospitality." Ye Aniu bowed and said, "I will tell you one more story today. I have an exam tomorrow, so after I finish, I can review my lessons."

"Alas! Sir, what are you talking about? It is a blessing for me, Dai, to have you tell me stories here."

"In that case, I, Ye, will be making a fool of myself."

The two men bowed to each other, and Manager Dai slowly walked to the counter waiting for Ye Aniu to tell his story.

Ye Aniu walked straight to the stage, straightened his shirt, took out a square piece of wood, and slapped it hard.

Snapped!
Suddenly, the sound spread throughout the entire inn, attracting everyone's attention, including the king's uncle and the eldest princess.

The eldest princess's eyes suddenly flickered with shame, and the uncle noticed. Could it be that this boy was the one the princess had her eyes on? Well, he was handsome, a perfect match for her niece. No wonder she looked down on Cui Mingyuan and Li Qingyun; their looks alone were slightly better.

Judging from his clothes, he should be from an ordinary family with no background. His family background is clean and he is suitable. You are the one, young man.

"Everyone, I'm Ye Aniu. Yesterday, I brought you a story about Justice Bao beheading a beautiful woman." Ye Aniu took a deep breath and said loudly, "Today, we will tell you another story about Justice Bao."

After a pause, he opened his voice and said, "Speaking of which, there are so many students, like a swarm of fish in a river. One year, when the imperial examination was about to begin, something unexpected and incredible happened."

Everyone held their breath, wondering what could be so unbelievable.

"What's so incredible?" Ye Aniu kept the question a secret, then suddenly said aloud, "A murder occurred at the feet of the emperor, in front of the gate of Confucius."

Everyone started talking.

"How dare someone kill students during the imperial examination?" someone said in surprise.

Some people even felt their hearts go cold, thinking that no one would want to kill them! After all, they are so talented (100,000 words omitted)
"How audacious! Aren't you afraid of having your entire clan executed?"

Ye Aniu continued, "Strange things happen every year, but this year they're especially numerous. It's said that a fire suddenly broke out in the Imperial Examination Hall where the students were taking the exam, burning all the first exam papers."

"Oh my god! This is like the sky is falling."

"That's right, this isn't about ruining someone's future."

Then Ye Aniu began to narrate, and everyone rushed to put out the fire, but in the end they were still a step too late, and the answer sheets were burned. The chief examiner Cui Mingchong announced a re-examination.

"Just as everyone was cursing and swearing, a master investigator named Bao Zheng, with a sullen face, passed by the study and suddenly discovered a man lying inside. It was none other than Ruan Wenhao." (From the TV series "Young Justice Bao 1," episode of the Qianli Lake case)
"Is this a homicide?"

"There must be something else going on in the case."

"Stop talking nonsense and listen."

Ye Aniu slapped the wooden block, silencing everyone's voices. Everyone held their breath, wondering if their guesses were correct.

Ye Aniu then recounts how Bao Zheng approached the corpse to examine it, convinced that "corpses can speak." But how could a mere student like him, a mere student, touch a corpse without permission? He was quickly met with a sharp rebuke from the Kaifeng prefect, Lord He.

Even Lord He wanted to capture Bao Zheng.

"Just then, Master Cui Mingchong arrived at the scene and immediately told Master He that he had called in Bao Zheng to help solve the case." Ye Aniu imitated Master He's sharp-faced, opportunistic demeanor and said, "Oh! Master Bao is a truly talented man."

"Puchi." The eldest princess was suddenly amused by his funny appearance. The king's uncle stroked his beard and nodded to show that he was very satisfied with his nephew-in-law.

The eldest princess realized that she had lost her composure and immediately changed back to her original appearance. Why did she become a different person in front of him?
Over there, Ye Aniu was talking non-stop about how Lord He flattered his superiors, causing the entire audience to burst into laughter. Everyone completely forgot that they might do the same in the future.

"Finally, after flattering him, he asked about the case. Who was the last person to see Ruan Wenhao yesterday?"

Ye Aniu continued to talk about the time when everyone left. Based on the time of Ruan Wenhao's death, it was speculated that everyone was a suspect.

"What should we do?" One of them said, "During the imperial examination, if things like this happen, it will affect everyone's mood for answering the questions. What if we fail..."

"The test is all about your mentality. If you can't even handle this, you might as well go home and start farming."

"That's right, nothing is bigger than an exam."

Bang! These students are really good at talking, unlike those who are less educated and are just curious. This audience is so ignorant! Ye Aniu slapped the square wood to quiet the scene.

He began to narrate, and just as everyone was about to move the body away, Bao Zheng inadvertently looked back.

"Suddenly." His tone became mysterious and low, making everyone's mood feel like they were on a roller coaster.

"God damn it, could you please stop being so startled?"

"Hurry up, I have some money here to reward you."

Hehe! Ye Aniu happily put away the reward money and continued, "Bao Zheng actually found grass under Ruan Wenhao's body."

"He picked up the grass, which was wet, and out of curiosity he asked, 'What is this?'

"And the locals nearby immediately replied that this is called Biluo Algae, which is unique to Qianli Lake."

Then, Ye Aniu continued his narration, and the others began to talk. Everyone felt that Ruan Wenhao was arrogant and domineering, and must have offended many people.

They came up with two possibilities: either the murderer had a deep hatred for Ruan Wenhao, or he killed him for huge profits.

"At this time, someone nearby said that if this was the case, all the students would be suspects of murder. After all, Ruan Wenhao was the most popular candidate for the top scorer." Ye Aniu said this, his sharp eyes sweeping over all the students present.

The students looked at each other, but surprisingly no one objected. This was because they had all hoped their opponents would disappear, but they hadn't dared to act on it.

Someone in the crowd sighed.

"This is also human nature..."

"Yes! After ten years of hard study, you will have a smooth career once you pass high school. There is nothing to be ashamed of thinking this way."

"Look, Master Zhongkang is a living example. Before he graduated from high school, he was just an ordinary merchant struggling to make a living."

After everyone finished discussing, Ye Aniu suddenly changed his tone and said, "Just then, Ling Chuchu suddenly looked at Bao Zheng, who was staring blankly at the Biluo Algae next to him, and asked him what he was thinking. Everyone was waiting to hear his opinion."

"Guess what he said?"

Ye Aniu raised his eyebrows and looked at the audience.

"Tell me quickly, I'll give you some money..."

(End of this chapter)