Wuxia: Drinking with Spring Breeze

This river is called the Bian River and is an important section of the Wei's North-South Grand Canal.

Traveling on the Bian River, one could head directly west into the capital Luoyang, trace north to Yan Yun's Northern Ping, or detour south to Jiangnan Yuhang, truly qualifying as one of Wei's major arteries of politics, military, and economy.

At this moment, several cargo ships were sailing upstream against the current on the Bian River, and the chants of the trackers on both banks were bold and grand, echoing on and off, which attracted many passersby to stop and watch.

Yang Ge also slowed his pace, gazing intently at the sparkling river for a long time before withdrawing his gaze and continuing to push his handcart along the road.

He followed the riverbank and went along with the river flow, heading downstream of the Bian River...

After turning past several side roads where the path gradually became rugged, Yang Ge's steps became even more brisk, as the heavy handcart seemed almost featherlight in his hands.

As the number of pedestrians on the road thinned, he even began to sprint with the handcart, sparking the iron components at the point where the wheel and axle connected!

By the time the sun neared midday, Yang Ge finally arrived at his destination.

"Creak."

He gently pushed open the crude courtyard gate, put together with small sticks, and was about to speak when he saw a skinny, elderly man with sparse hair and beard, dressed in patched short clothes, sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, skillfully repairing an old fishing net with a shuttle.

Seeing the old man, Yang Ge's face gradually broke into a genuine smile.

But upon seeing Yang Ge, the old man heaved a heavy sigh.

"You boy, why have you come again!"

The old man slowly got up with the support of the ground and took a dusty towel from a stool beside him, his voice a mixture of reproach and concern as he approached, "Didn't I tell you not to come anymore? I am an old man with one foot in the grave. How much can I eat, how much can I wear? With that extra money, wouldn't it be better to save up, find yourself a wife, and settle down…"

Yang Ge took the towel from the old man's hand, wiped his sweat while unloading the sacks from the handcart, and spoke with a relaxed smile, "Look at what you're saying, as a lone man, how much can I eat or wear myself?"

Hearing Yang Ge's words, the old man's act of drawing water paused, and he couldn't help but sigh again.

Yang Ge paid no attention to the old man's sorrowful look, swiftly carrying bag after bag of heavy sacks into the humble house, opening the sacks and pouring the golden grains into the grain bin.

After putting away the food, he familiarly reached into the kitchen for an almost rusty and broken firewood knife, and despite the old man urging him, "Don't bother," and "Rest for a bit," he headed out the door dragging the handcart with big steps,

It was only when the sun began to move westward that he returned to the small courtyard with a cart full of neatly stacked firewood, which was even taller than himself.

"The inn has been very busy these past few days, I need to go back early today. You use this firewood first, I will come back after half a month…"

"When I was entering the village, Zhang Lao Shuan and the scraggy dog saw me. If they come knocking for handouts, you don't need to feel bad about the grain, give them a bit. If they dare to overstep, don't bother arguing with them, I'll deal with them when I come back..."

"It's the same old message, if you have any trouble or feel unwell, just send someone to look for me at Yuelai Inn in Lu Ting County and tell them I'll pay them for their trouble, there's no worry nobody will come..."

Yang Ge busied himself with the firewood while rambling on and on with instructions to the old man.

The old man bustled around him non-stop, and despite trying to interject several times, he wasn't able to cut in until Yang Ge was almost done arranging the firewood. That's when he suddenly seemed to recall something, grabbing Yang Ge's hand and saying, "Stop working for a moment, wait for me, I have something to show you!"

After that, he hurriedly rushed into the inner room.

Yang Ge didn't understand but stood still as instructed.

Soon, the old man came out, standing behind the door with one hand behind his back, the other signaling him to come closer, his eyes darting around the courtyard as if he were a thief.

Seeing this, Yang Ge couldn't help but laugh and say, "Just to be clear, if it's some kind of heirloom treasure, I don't want it!"

The old man glared at him, gesturing more urgently for him to come closer, "Stop talking nonsense, come here!"

Yang Ge felt utterly confused as he clapped his hands and approached.

After making sure no one was around the yard, the old man mysteriously took out the object behind his back...it was a fist-sized bundle, wrapped in countless layers of cloth.

Yang Ge glanced at the old man with puzzlement before looking down at the bundle.

The old man carefully unfolded the cloth layer by layer. A ray of sunlight slanted in from the eaves, reflecting a strand of golden orange light that dazzled Yang Ge's eyes.

"This is..."

Suddenly, Yang Ge's eyes widened, and his eyes filled with a surge of mist.

The old man unwrapped the last layer of cloth to reveal two objects nested inside.

A necklace with a strong sense of society, easily weighing two ounces of pure gold, with a Buddha pendant dangling in the middle.

A Casio Mudmaster watch face encrusted with layers of water rust, as if worn down by countless years.

Looking at these two objects, Yang Ge was stunned for a second. Then, snapping back to reality, he violently grabbed the bundle and clutched it tightly to his chest, tears streaming down his face.

This necklace was a birthday gift from his mother when he turned thirty-three, saying his birth signs were weak, and wearing some precious metal could anchor him.

This watch was a birthday gift from his girlfriend when he was thirty-four, hoping that no matter where he roamed, he would remember to come home early.

Unfortunately...

The golden Buddha necklace couldn't anchor him.

The Mudmaster watch couldn't point the way home.

Seeing his reaction, the old man let out a sigh of relief and sighed softly, "I just knew these had to be yours."

Tears streaming, Yang Ge reached out and tightly grasped the old man's rough, withered hand, his voice hoarse, "You...you're risking your life!"

He had gone back to that spot in the river many times, never finding these two items.

One could imagine how many times this old man, who needed a walking stick to move, had dived back into those waters to retrieve these items for him!

Yet the old man seemed proud, showing off a toothless grin, chuckling, "Hehe, I've worshipped the Dragon King for most of my life, going into the water is just like going home!"

After pausing, he shook his head with some regret, "It's a shame I still couldn't find that iron chest you mentioned, the one bigger than a carriage, perhaps it was too large and got swept away by the undercurrent..."

Yang Ge shook his head repeatedly, wanting to say, "No need to search anymore," but he couldn't utter a word.

The old man sighed, smoothing Yang Ge's back with one hand and helping him sit down with the other.

They ended up sitting... right next to the torn fishing net.

Seeing the torn fishing net, the old man seemed to recall something, and softly asked Yang Ge's back, "Boy, do you still want to die?"

Sensing the old man's gaze, Yang Ge also turned his head to glance at the torn fishing net beside him.

Eight months ago, it was with this torn fishing net that the old man had fished him out of the Bian River... twice!

He was silent for a long while before finally shaking his head, his voice hoarse, "I don't want to die anymore."

He just hadn't figured out how to live yet...