Notes on Longevity

Chapter 14 The Ever-Changing Young Master Li Chengru, and the Ten-Tael Bet Yang You'an

"Young master, this is not appropriate. I'd better pay for it myself!"

As Yang Youan spoke, he took out the half-empty bag of coins from his pocket and handed it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper was now in a dilemma. He looked at the two money bags in front of him, one full and the other looking rather embarrassing.

Then he looked up at the two of them, his face showing difficulty, as if to say, "Whose opinion do I have to follow?"

Li Chengru smiled, immediately took back the money bag that Yang Youan had handed over, stuffed it into Yang Youan's arms, and said, "It's settled! What's wrong with that? I admire scholars more than anything in my life. Young brother, you have passed the children's examination at such a young age. I admire you very much. As long as I am still in Fuyang City, I will take care of your three meals a day, as well as your food, clothing, and lodging."

"This..." Yang Youan hadn't reacted yet when Li Chengru pulled him upstairs, and finally told the innkeeper, "Remember to arrange a room for him."

"Alright!" the shopkeeper replied enthusiastically.

Yang Youan was pulled to the second floor by Li Chengru and entered the leftmost room.

After the door was closed, Li Chengru seemed to become a different person. His originally passionate demeanor was replaced by a scholarly air.

After entering the room, Li Chengru came to the table and said to Yang Youan, "Please sit down, young master."

Yang Youan was completely bewildered by this. He couldn't understand why Li Chengru, who had been so passionate just moments before, was acting this way now.

But since Yang Youan had already entered the room, it wasn't appropriate for him to say anything more. So he put down his box, walked to the table, and sat down opposite Li Chengru.

After seeing Yang Youan sit down, Li Chengru smiled slightly, then picked up the tea leaves from the tea tray on the table and began to brew tea.

"This tea is called Pine Needle, and it's a green tea."

Li Chengru carefully placed the tiny tea leaves, each the size of an embroidery needle, one by one, from the tea tweezers down the spout of the teapot.

Yang Youan looked at the tea leaves and thought to himself: Isn't this obvious?

“Green tea has a calming effect,” Li Chengru said slowly, picking up a kettle of hot water and pouring boiling water into it. “But what really calms the mind is not just the tea that has been brewed and drunk, but also the mindset while brewing the tea.”

Yang Youan watched Li Chengru's tea-making movements: unhurried and deliberate, every gesture exuding elegance. A smile graced his face as he brewed the tea, striving for perfection in every step.

Yang Youan watched as Li Chengru stopped what he was doing, and the aroma of tea slowly wafted out as the boiling water poured into the pot came into contact with the tea leaves.

He carefully inhaled the aroma of the tea, and felt something indescribable slowly entering his body with each breath.

He felt very relaxed; at that moment, he experienced a sense of peace he had never felt before.

Since his parents died in an accident when he was five years old, he has lived with his uncle and aunt who had no children.

His aunt and uncle hoped that he would continue to study hard and try to pass the imperial examinations in the future, but things are never as they seem.

Once, my aunt went hunting in the mountains with my uncle and was unfortunately bitten by a wild beast, leaving her with a limp. From then on, my uncle went hunting in the mountains alone, both to raise money for Yang Youan's education and to spend a lot of money on my aunt's medical treatment.

Yang Youan was sensible from a young age, so he wanted to put down his studies and go hunting with his uncle. But they refused, saying, "You should study hard. Once you pass the imperial examinations, your family won't have to do this anymore."

But Yang Youan said, "Studying is good, but my aunt was hurt because of me, and I feel guilty. I want to go hunting in the mountains with my uncle after school every day."

Seeing Yang Youan's determination, his uncle had no choice but to take the young boy with him on hunting trips in the mountains. This continued for six years.

At the age of eleven, the preliminary examinations for children in Yunzhou began. Yang You'an, having passed the preliminary examinations at the age of eight, was a renowned child prodigy in his hometown and prefecture, and for the first time, he was exceptionally arranged to directly enter the provincial examinations.

Before he went to take the provincial examination, his neighbors, fellow villagers, and the government office all gave him some silver.

From then on, Yang Youan embarked on the journey of taking the provincial and metropolitan examinations alone.

The trials and tribulations he had experienced along the way, and the things he had seen and heard, had helped the young Yang You'an grow. And now, only now could he truly relax.

"How is it?" Li Chengru poured Yang Youan a cup of tea first, and then poured one for himself. He smelled the aroma of the tea, took a small sip, and Yang Youan followed suit.

"Hot!" Yang Youan blurted out.

"Cough!" Li Chengru choked on Yang Youan's words and coughed repeatedly, covering his mouth. "You really know how to ruin the atmosphere."

Yang Youan was also embarrassed. He had been drinking plain water the whole way, and to save money, he had been eating dry food or noodles, and rarely went to restaurants.

"I haven't asked your honorable name yet, young master." Yang Youan put down his teacup and sat up straight.

"My surname is Li, my given name is Chengru, and my courtesy name is Wenren. If you don't mind, you can call me Brother Li." Li Chengru resumed his posture from the inn lobby, slumped in a chair with his legs spread wide.

"Brother Li, here you go." Yang Youan took out the money pouch from his pocket again and placed it in front of Li Chengru.

"What are you doing?" Li Chengru asked. "Didn't I say I'd pay for you?"

“Brother Li, we are complete strangers, and I really dare not let you spend so much money. I don’t have much money here. I will go out and sell some calligraphy and paintings in a few days and then pay you back.”

Yang Youan stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with a troubled expression.

“It’s alright.” Li Chengru looked at Yang Youan with a teasing expression. “If you insist on this, how about we make a bet?”

"What kind of bet?" Yang Youan asked Li Chengru with a puzzled look.

"Are you confident you'll pass the imperial examination this time?" Li Chengru asked.

"I'm not very confident. I got first place in the provincial examination, which was just luck." Yang You'an frowned and said, "Although I got first place in the provincial examination, it only applies to Fuyun Prefecture. The metropolitan examination is for candidates from the entire Yan Dynasty. I'm afraid I won't be able to pass."

"Alright, let's bet on who will get first place in the provincial examination, shall we?" Li Chengru said with a smile.

“But You’an is new to the capital and doesn’t know anyone except Brother Li. How can we gamble like this?” Yang You’an asked, puzzled.

"No need for those, let's bet on one person."

Li Chengru stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the bustling street below.

"I wonder who Brother Li is referring to?" Yang Youan followed Li Chengru to the window and asked.

"Zhang Ze'an." Li Chengru raised his head, glanced at the azure sky with disdain, then turned to Yang You'an and said, "If you lose, you give me ten taels; if you win, I'll pay for your lodging. How about it?"

(End of this chapter)