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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
Wang Erniu and his Family from Green Mountain Village had taken in a handsome fallen aristocrat. The news quickly spread throughout the neighbouring villages. Such things could not be concealed from their neighbours, and their wagging tongues soon spread the news everywhere.
Many friendly villagers would come over to say hello whenever they saw Wang Erniu working in the fields, and they naturally asked about Gu Changge’s origins during their casual chats.
Wang Erniu naturally answered with the story that was embellished with his own conjectures. He told them that Gu Changge was a fallen noble who had wandered here. Taking pity on Gu Changge, he had asked the poor man where he was going. However, it turned out that Gu Changge himself did not know. It was for that reason he took Gu Changge into his home for the time being. Furthermore, Gu Changge refused to receive his kindness without doing something in return and decided to work in the fields with him instead.
After listening to the story, the villagers were amazed.
Many places had been afflicted with war in recent years. Countless dynasties had perished, so there were indeed innumerable refugees who had fled for their lives. Be that as it may, it was their first time seeing a fallen noble voluntarily taking the initiative to help in the fields. It was completely different from the image of a wealthy and pampered aristocrat in their minds.
Not to mention, Gu Changge was neither careless nor perfunctory but hard-working and conscientious when helping in the fields. His level of practicality was comparable to many of the villagers themselves.
In this aspect, the villagers were both amazed and in disbelief. If not for Gu Changge’s speech and behaviour, which were very different from the common folk, and his inherent air of nobility, they would have doubted the truth of Wang Erniu’s story.
Wang Erniu himself was rather troubled and perplexed by the situation. He had not expected Gu Changge to be so different from ordinary nobles, much less show such ability to endure hardships. In the process, he also realised that Gu Changge seemed to be very easy going. It was as though Gu Changge was taking the initiative to adapt to everything around him.
In this regard, Wang Erniu honestly did not know what to say. He could only accept the situation with a shake of his head and a wry smile. Nevertheless, he had to admit that it was indeed much easier for him to complete his farm work with Gu Changge’s help. He originally took Gu Changge into his home out of pity and compassion, but he had since developed a favourable impression toward Gu Changge.
There were a hundred households in Green Mountain Village. Naturally, news about Gu Changge soon spread to every single household thanks to the wagging tongues of the villagers. Even the villagers from the neighbouring villages heard about the news and came to visit out of curiosity.
Some of the young women would blushingly watch Gu Changge from a distance. It was their first time seeing such a handsome man. Although he was down on hard times, his handsome facial features could not be concealed. His appearance made them feel slightly dirty and inferior in comparison, so they only dared to secretly watch him from afar.
On the other hand, Gu Changge had gotten accustomed to his current life. He would follow Wang Erniu every single day, going out to work at sunrise and coming back to rest at sundown. It was a peaceful rhythm where he leisurely enjoyed life in the countryside, welcoming the morning dew and chasing the sunset. On the rare occasions when the farm work was more than usual, they would only return when the Moon came out at night.
Young women would sometimes come forward and offer Gu Changge a bowl of sweet drink with a blush on their faces. These scenes made Wang Erniu extremely envious. He sighed and lamented about how it was so great to be good-looking, regardless of one’s gender. Needless to say, his own Wife often prepared lunch for him and brought the food to the fields herself. When he was eating his lunch, she would reach out her sleeves and help him wipe away the sweat on his forehead. They would then look at each other and smile softly, showing great understanding of each other.
Gu Changge had seen many such heartwarming scenes. However, he seemed to feel slightly touched and enlightened every time he watched them.
Wang Erniu and his Family gradually grew closer to Gu Changge.
After learning that Gu Changge had the surname ‘Gu’, Wang Xiaoniu began to call him Uncle Gu. The title left Gu Changge speechless. Even Wang Erniu’s Wife would call him ‘Brother Gu’. Nevertheless, his current unkempt appearance was certainly easy for others to mistake his age. It was just that he was too lazy to spend time grooming himself. He was content as long as he was comfortable.
There was a vague feeling at the back of his head that he would fully recall his past once he completely understood everything. But, for some reason, he felt that his current life seemed to be more comfortable and unrestrained. Living his daily life in this manner did not seem unacceptable.
It was just that such thoughts did not linger for long. He knew that he was ultimately just a guest to Wang Erniu and his Family. Besides, he was only temporarily living here because he had been tired from his travels and needed to rest. Once he had gotten enough rest, he would need to resume his journey again. He did not know what was waiting for him ahead.
Green Mountain Village was not large. Even taking into account the surrounding villages, there were only several hundred households at most. Therefore, many of the villagers became familiar with Gu Changge during this period. They would often try to ask around about his origins, hoping to figure out his identity. He would always respond that he was just a wanderer with no origins, but the villagers did not quite believe him. His behaviour and demeanour indicated that his origins could not be so simple. His past was definitely beyond their imagination. At any rate, they had no means of knowing the truth if he refused to tell them.
Leaving that aside, Gu Changge’s diligence and thoroughness while working in the fields with Wang Erniu during this period did not escape the notice of certain people with other intentions. Numerous young women would also bring various handmade bean paste cakes and desserts for him. Some even gave him handmade scarves and handkerchiefs that they knitted by themselves.
The way they expressed their feelings was very simple, so much so that there was no actual contact with him. Be that as it may, they would blush shyly and speak to him whenever they brought him some water. They would take the opportunity to ask him about his name and origins. Nevertheless, their brief conversations were enough for them to create fantasies in their minds.
The magnanimity, calmness, naturalness, and nobility emanating from his behaviour and speech made their hearts race. Those were definitely not qualities that could be seen among the men of the nearby countryside.
Under the pressure of these young women, their parents came to inquire about Gu Changge’s intentions and whether he had any plans to remain in Green Mountain Village because they wanted to betroth their Daughter to him. At the same time, they also hinted that he did not need to prepare any dowry or betrothal gifts. Any necessary preparations would be handled by their side of the Family.
Contrary to expectations, Gu Changge always declined these offers.
The young men in the neighbouring village were extremely envious as a result. In order for them to seek a marriage, they not only had to hire a matchmaker to make contact with the woman’s Family but also prepare an abundance of money and betrothal gifts. Not to mention that they had to mentally prepare themselves for rejection.
However, so many young women had fallen in love with Gu Changge even though he only arrived in Green Mountain Village not too long ago. Was that the benefit of being good-looking? Yet, Gu Changge had refused the proposals without any hesitation. It seemed that he had no plans for marriage. For that reason, the young men could not help feeling extremely annoyed when they compared themselves to him.
“When I grow older, I’m going to be like Uncle Gu and be courted by so many ladies.” Wang Xiaoniu might be young, but he understood many things. Hence, he was also very envious of Gu Changge.
“You little rascal, what do you know?” Wang Erniu and his Wife exchanged a smile with each other. They had also been approached by many villagers, who had similar goals of asking about Gu Changge’s plans for the future.
In a small village like Green Mountain Village, the appearance of a fallen noble like Gu Changge was extremely rare indeed. Additionally, he not only had a good character but could also withstand various hardships. He was completely unlike the rumoured nobles, who were accustomed to a pampered lifestyle. It was inevitable for so many young women to have a favourable impression of him.
Naturally, some of them also harboured other motives. They believed that his exile was only temporary. What if he regained his status in the future? Not all the villagers were as kind and simple as Wang Erniu and his Family.
“Why hasn’t the Master Elder come back for me? I’ve already waited for so long. Could he have forgotten about me? Or, was he lying to me and playing a trick on me?”
Wang Xiaoniu was just a child, so his attention quickly shifted to another matter. His expression was unable to hide his true thoughts. While he was speaking, he took out the sword-patterned jade pendant once more.
There was no saying how many times he had repeated those words over the last few days. At the beginning, he had been very expectant as he waited for the Master Elder to come for him. In the end, he became numb and desensitised to the matter. He was beginning to wonder whether the Master Elder had been lying to him and playing a trick on him.
“Little brat, don’t talk nonsense. What if this is a test by that Immortal? How could the Immortal deceive a child like you for no reason?”
Upon hearing those words, Wang Erniu hurriedly scolded his Son. He naturally did not believe that the Master Elder had deceived Wang Xiaoniu. The Master Elder might have been delayed for some reason. Or, he was testing Wang Xiaoniu to see whether the latter was sincere. Were there not such stories written in the records circulating among the common folk? Anything was possible with enough sincerity.
While that may be true, Wang Erniu could not help feeling slightly regretful. If the Immortal truly valued his Son, he would also share in the glory. He could finally brag about his Son to the surrounding villagers. After all, he had been holding back from speaking about this matter during this period. He also reminded Wang Xiaoniu not to speak carelessly, and explained how hard seeking Immortality was.
Gu Changge quietly observed the Family of three, but he seemed to experience a fluctuation in his emotions when he heard the words ‘seeking Immortality’ from their conversation.
Early the next morning, Gu Changge followed behind Wang Erniu and headed to the fields to work. The morning glow gradually emerged from the other side of the mountain like a layer of mist. Wisps of sunlight flowed out, permeating the air between the mountain and the trees. There was no hustle and bustle of vehicles, only a serene and peaceful scene.
Similarly, Wang Xiaoniu went to the private school on the eastern side of the village to study as usual. It was just that he was slightly more excited than usual today. That was because he could finally meet the beautiful Lady Su again. In the eyes of the village children, there was no woman prettier than her.
On this day of every month, Lady Su would appear at the private school to teach them how to read and write. Some of the adults would also rush over and secretly stare at her from outside the school. There was truly no shortage of people who appreciated beauty.
Nobody dared to disturb the elegant bamboo house where Lady Su normally lived unless they encountered any troubles or incurable diseases that required treatment from her. After all, they had not forgotten that she was a powerful cultivator.
Inside the school, the sound of reading rang out like the wind blowing through the forest. The mixture of voices was filled with great vitality. The children were obediently sitting on the floor and reading out loud from the book in their hands.
A woman, who was wearing a white dress and a veil that covered her face so that only her clear and lovely eyes could be seen, slowly walked by. She held a book in one hand and tucked her other hand behind her back with a faint smile on her face. From time to time, she would also use her book to lightly tap the heads of the children who were not paying attention.
The woman in white had a tall and slim figure that resembled a fairy. Her hair was pulled up to reveal part of her slender and fair neck. At the same time, there were parts of her hair that flowed down her back. Her aura was cold and dignified, making her seem like a Goddess who was untouched by worldly affairs.
This woman was none other than the lady whom the villagers of Green Mountain Village regarded as a living Bodhisattva. She was Lady Su, who reached out and rescued everybody by resolving the plague that had devastated many of the surrounding villages.
The truth was that nobody had seen her true appearance before. She had always worn a wide-brimmed hat or a veil. Hence, her true appearance had never been revealed before. But that did not reduce their speculations about her true appearance. Underneath her veil was definitely a beautiful face that could cause the downfall of countries.
It did not take long for the morning class to end. The white-clothed woman gave the children some time to rest before she continued teaching them how to read later. Teaching these children was a form of pleasure for her.
“Living in a cottage by the village, away from the hustle and bustle of traffic. Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence and leisurely appreciating the scenery of the southern mountain.”
That poem was a true portrayal of her current life.
She was far from the cultivating world and her former acquaintances. She also left behind the constant intrigues and disputes of society. It was an unrestrained and unfettered life in the genuine sense, but she would inevitably feel lonely and sad at times. Nevertheless, that was her own choice. Flying birds flocked home together, and there was meaning in such things.
“Xiaoniu, don’t forget to put in a good word for my Sister! She reminded me again this morning. If you don’t help me, then I will never speak to you again.
Next to Wang Xiaoniu was a young girl with her hair in braids. She was blinking her large eyes while talking to him and asking for his help.
Several children nearby quickly gathered around to join in the fun when they heard her statement.
“I got it. Leave it to me, Erya. I will definitely tell Uncle Gu to agree.”
Wang Xiaoniu looked at the young girl in front of him with a happy and pleased expression on his face. Thumping his chest proudly, he loudly made a promise.
“Hehe, you’re so great, Xiaoniu.” Upon receiving Wang Xiaoniu’s answer, the young girl immediately smiled with satisfaction. Then, she seemed to realise something and continued cheerfully, “My Sister is the famous Tofu Fairy in the village. The men courting her are lined up from the beginning of the village to the end of the village. Aside from Lady Su, who could possibly be prettier than my Sister? I suggest you tell Uncle Gu to know what’s good for him. He should hurry up and agree to the marriage with my Sister.”
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