We said we would experience life, fairy, how did you become real?

Chapter 58 Brother Xiao, put it down.

"Father passed away three years ago, and Mother passed away two months ago."

Wang Ying stood beside Xiao Mo and slowly began to speak.

The little girl who used to share steamed buns with Xiao Mo has now grown into a young woman and married into a family in Qingshan City.

Even Wang Ying's daughter is already seven or eight years old.

"I didn't expect the village chief and Aunt Chen's graves to be next to each other." Xiao Mo said with a smile, "In the past, Aunt Chen always told me that she married the wrong person and that when she died, she must stay far away from that old man."

Wang Ying smiled and said, "Yes, that's how my mother was. But when my father passed away, she was the one who cried the most. When she died, she specifically told me that my grave should be next to my father's."

Xiao Mo knelt down and placed a jar of wine in front of the tombstone: "Perhaps this is what husband and wife are like."

Wang Ying's daughter, Zhang Qianqian, wanted to step forward and grab Xiao Mo's blue robe, but her mother pulled her away.

Wang Ying placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder to keep her from moving: "Brother Xiao, before our parents passed away, they asked me to pass on some things to you."

"Mm." Xiao Mo nodded.

"When Father passed away, he said that the greatest blessing in his life was to be able to teach Brother Xiao, a top scholar, to read. Unfortunately, Father was not very learned and did not know much."

"No, the village chief taught me a lot. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have even passed the preliminary examination." Xiao Mo shook his head. "Did the village chief say anything else?"

"Father also said that at best he would only be a scholar in his life, and he couldn't compare to you, Brother Xiao. But there is one thing, Father said that he has eaten for decades longer than you, Brother Xiao, and he has a clearer understanding of some things."

My father told me to tell Brother Xiao not to take things too seriously.

In the imperial court, the most important thing is to protect yourself and not to worry about temporary gains or losses.

The best outcome would be to emerge unscathed and safe.

"The village chief is very wise," Xiao Mo praised.

Wang Ying glanced at Xiao Mo's profile, bit her lip slightly, her expression hesitant, but she still spoke:

"When my mother passed away, she told me to tell you, Brother Xiao, not to dwell on those who have already left. The mortal and immortal realms are separated, and once someone is gone, they are gone. Brother Xiao should find a wife and have a child, otherwise it will be very painful to grow old alone, and there will be no one to take care of you in your old age."

"Hehehe," Xiao Mo chuckled, "It does sound like what Aunt Chen would say."

"Brother Xiao," Wang Ying hesitated, then added, "I think so too."

“It’s alright,” Xiao Mo interrupted Wang Ying.

Xiao Mo stood up, gently patted Zhang Qianqian's head, and smiled, "When Qianqian grows up, how about taking care of Uncle Xiao in his old age?"

"Okay, okay." The little girl nodded.

"Look," Xiao Mo said with a smile to the little girl's mother, "Is there still someone to take care of me in my old age and see me off in my final days?"

Wang Ying: "."

"Alright, Xiaoying, I'm going up the mountain. You should hurry back to Qingshan City too, or it will be too late by the time you get there."

Xiao Mo straightened his sleeves and walked step by step toward Sheshan, gradually disappearing at the end of the mountain road.

"Mom, why is Uncle Xiao still unmarried at such an old age?"

The little girl looked up at her mother with curiosity.

“Because,” Wang Ying watched the receding figure, “Uncle Xiao’s heart can’t hold anyone else.”

After paying respects to the village chief, Xiao Mo went up Sheshan Mountain and came to the giant rock at the entrance of the cave.

The open space in front of the cave is already covered with purple hydrangea and green iris flowers.

Not far from the cave, there was a small wooden house, which Xiaoqing built herself.

Over the years, Xiaoqing has lived there, taking care of her older sister.

As for Xiao Mo's old courtyard, Xiao Qing would clean it every two or three days.

Standing at the cave entrance, Xiao Mo quietly looked at the huge rock blocking his way.

Although he was nearly fifty, his posture remained as upright as ever, like the old pine tree in the courtyard, as if no matter how strong the wind was, it could not bend his back.

"Ru Xue, I've come back to see you."

Facing the cave, Xiao Mo slowly spoke.

It was as if he was talking to her in the cave, or as if he were talking to himself.

"Don't blame me for not visiting you all these years. It's true that there were too many things to do during the reform, and after all that hard work, it still failed."

"But not long after, I will be going to take up my new post."

"I left the capital to serve as the prefect of Beihai Prefecture, which is a place by the sea."

"You've probably never seen the sea before, have you?"

"It's okay, I'll take you to see him/her when you get out."

"Speaking of which, twenty-seven years have passed in the blink of an eye." Xiao Mo smiled. "Look at me, my hair has turned white."

"Brother Xiao"

Just as Xiao Mo was speaking to Bai Ruxue, Xiao Qing's voice came from behind him.

Xiao Mo turned around and smiled, "Xiao Qing, it's been a long time."

"Brother Xiao, you..."

Looking at Xiao Mo's silver hair at his temples and his increasingly aged appearance, Xiao Qing felt a pang of sadness for no apparent reason.

I haven't seen Brother Xiao for only six or seven years, but he has aged so much.

"Oh, you mean my gray hair? Or the wrinkles on my face? It's normal, everyone gets them when they get old." Xiao Mo said nonchalantly, "But Xiao Qing, you're still the same as before, you haven't changed at all, that's great."

"."

Xiao Qing remained silent, stepped forward, and stood beside Xiao Mo, looking at the giant rock in front of them together.

"I haven't been back all these years. Has anything happened to your sister?" Xiao Mo asked Xiao Qing beside him.

"Nothing happened here, sister. A few years ago, some rogue cultivators came, but I chased them away and they never came back. However, the village chief, Aunt Chen, and a few Aunt Wangs have all left."

Xiaoqing told Xiao Mo about the village's affairs over the years, word by word, such as who had passed away in Shiqiao Village, whose grandchildren had been born, and who had passed the imperial examinations to become a scholar.

Xiao Mo listened attentively, nodding in response from time to time.

As "Brother Xiao" finished speaking, Xiao Qing turned her head away, her little hands clenched tightly, "Brother Xiao, you really don't need to wait any longer."

"It's alright." Xiao Mo shook his head.

"But Brother Xiao, you've waited twenty-seven years. You're almost fifty now, that's really enough." Xiaoqing had tried to persuade Brother Xiao countless times, "Brother Xiao, let it go."

As the woman finished speaking, a spring breeze swept through the mountains and forests, gently ruffling the man's white hair and caressing his blue robe, which had turned yellow and been patched countless times.

"Xiaoqing."

Xiao Mo looked at the stone in front of him, his voice drifting through the mountains and forests.

"She used to be the one waiting for me."

just now.

It's my turn to wait for her.

Chapter 59 Resigning from old age and returning home

After leaving Shiqiao Village, Xiao Mo took office in Beihai Prefecture.

Beihai Prefecture is named after Beihai, which is located near Beihai.

In recent years, whenever he had free time, Xiao Mo would read some local chronicles and compare them with the geomantic maps of the Great Qi Dynasty, intending to create a map of the rivers and mountains.

If Ru Xue wakes up, she will want to walk along the river.

The best route is to start from Ganyuebo, then enter Siming Lake, head towards Chunsong River, and finally pass through Luoshui River and Yunya River before entering Beihai.

Based on Xiao Mo's understanding from the literature he has consulted over the years, the further one travels along the river, the more difficult it becomes. Therefore, he needs to thoroughly explore this final section, Yunya River, to prepare for Ru Xue's journey.

Three months later, Xiao Mo arrived in Beihai.

Zhang Qianzhi had previously served as the prefect of Beihai Prefecture for several years, accumulating considerable prestige.

Xiao Mo was Zhang Qianzhi's student, not to mention that Xiao Mo's reputation had long been known throughout the State of Qi.

Therefore, the powerful families and officials of Beihai Prefecture were very cooperative in accepting Xiao Mo's appointment as governor.

However, in the second year after Xiao Mo arrived in Beihai Prefecture, he received a letter.

Mr. Zhang felt he was dying, so he called Xiao Mo over, wanting to see Xiao Mo and Fang Ling one last time.

Xiao Mo traveled day and night and arrived at the Zhang residence within half a month.

When Xiao Mo entered Mr. Zhang's residence, everyone wore a sorrowful expression.

At the door of the old man's room, his children, grandchildren, servants, and maids were all quietly wiping away tears.

"Xiao Mo, come in. Your teacher is waiting for you inside," Fang Ling said as she came out of the house.

"Yes, senior brother."

Xiao Mo bowed to Fang Ling and went into the house.

On the bed, when Mr. Zhang saw Xiao Mo walk in, his aged eyes suddenly lit up: "Xiao Mo, you've come."

“Teacher.” Xiao Mo quickly stepped forward and sat down beside Mr. Zhang’s bed, his face filled with sorrow.

"Hehehe," Mr. Zhang looked at Xiao Mo and chuckled, "When we first met, you were a young man not yet twenty. Now look at you, your temples are all white, you're almost fifty, and you're still not married."

Xiao Mo shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, "I'm so old now, I'm used to being alone."

"You."

Mr. Zhang sighed.

In the past, Mr. Zhang had said that he wanted to marry his daughter to him, but Xiao Mo declined.

The late emperor had several attempts to find a wife for Xiao Mo, but Xiao Mo politely declined each time.

After that, Zhang Qianzhi knew that he was determined to wait for that woman to return.

“Immortals are immortals after all, and mortals are mortals after all. The separation between immortals and mortals is not just a saying.” Old Mr. Zhang held Xiao Mo’s hand. “But most of our lives have passed since then. If I tell you these things now, you won’t listen, and it will be useless.”

Xiao Mo lowered his head and remained silent.

Mr. Zhang continued, “I believe that it won’t be long before His Majesty will reinstate you and Fang Ling. His Majesty is just young and immature, but in fact, if His Majesty makes up his mind, he is no less capable than the late Emperor. His Majesty can see the deep-seated problems in Qi.”

You just need to focus on your own work and serve the people wholeheartedly.

Xiao Mo nodded: "Student understands."

Mr. Zhang raised his head, looking at the ceiling, his pupils gradually dilating:

"Xiao Mo, a hundred years of life is really too short. I have lived long enough, but I still feel that there are many things I have not finished."

Don't end up like me!

Keep going.

He is worthy of the people's trust.

They are worthy of heaven and earth.

I have a clear conscience.

As Mr. Zhang finished speaking, his hand, which was holding Xiao Mo's, fell limply to the edge of the bed.

"Father!"

"Father!"

"grandfather!"

Mr. Zhang's children wept uncontrollably.

Xiao Mo stood up and bowed deeply to the gentleman.

Four years later, Xiao Mo was over fifty years old.

Big flood in Beihai Prefecture!

Xiao Mo braved the heavy rain to go to the disaster-stricken areas and dangerous sections of the dikes to personally inspect the disaster situation, water levels, breach locations, and flooding extent.