South Gate, once a remarkable presence among China’s Flower Art Sect.
Even at its peak, the number of disciples in the South Gate was merely ten.
Despite the small number, the disciples of South Gate were able to secure a position in the domestic flower art world and even in the international floral industry after pleting their training.
South Gate fell into decline during the Late Qing and Early Republic Period, and the five individuals known as "Pine, Bamboo, Orchid, Plum Blossom, and Chrysanthemum," representing the last generation of the South Gate, were personal disciples of the last Sect Leader.
Among them, aside from Hu Song who left midway and Fang Wulan who passed away young, Mao Dazhu and Mei Xiang Bai Juyi each achieved success in their respective fields.
Xiao Xian truly interacted only with Mao Dazhu and Bai Juyi. The personalities of the two elderly men were as divergent as east and west, and their final outes were also starkly different.
While Mao Dazhu did not achieve much in floral arts, he lived a fulfilling life in later years, surrounded by grandchildren, busying himself with bamboo craft and the elderly home.
After Bai Juyi and Mei Xiang parted ways, Bai Juyi lived alone for years, gradually being more reclusive. As his life drew to an end, encountering Xiao Xian offered him a chance to pass on his skills to someone.
And what kind of person was Hu Song?
Out of curiosity for the only "Five Gentlemen" who left the country to pursue a living abroad, Xiao Xian visited Hu Song’s home acpanied by Locke.
Hu Song’s life boasted no great acplishments worthy of praise; he was just one among countless young individuals forced by family and survival to abandon their ideals in that backward era.
His early life was extremely rough, and when he could finally enjoy peace in his later years, he unfortunately suffered from a sudden car accident.
His neurological damage was not in the literal sense, but rather a blockage; a condition unresolved by medicine.
After succumbing to amnesia, his behavior regressed to childhood. His wife had passed away early, so his filial children hired a caretaker to look after the elderly.
"The elderly mostly just sit in the yard, often lost in thought, don’t ask for food when hungry, would cry and make noise if they fell, somewhat difficult to deal with," Locke shared some particulars about the elder with Xiao Xian while leading her to Hu Song’s apartment.
Childish temperament is whimsical, oblivious to others’ expressions.
Locke would occasionally visit to sit for a time.
The elder does not recognize him anymore, so Locke’s presence is merely sitting in silence.
"Uncle Hu, I’ve brought your disciple nephew," Locke announced upon their arrival to find the elder seated in the courtyard, motionless as though pletely oblivious to the conversation.
Spring sunlight was splendid, with several snow-laden pines imported from Northeast China thriving in growth.
Hu Song’s caretaker had set up a long bench in the courtyard for him, covered with a thin blanket.
Upon hearing the greetings, Elder Hu Song seemed deaf, with eyes fixated on the ground, observing a line of black ants crawling by.
"No use, he mostly ignores people, even Jeff encounters the same." Jeff, the elder’s eldest son, also inherited Yuelai Building.
Xiao Xian and Locke stood beside Elder Hu Song for a long while, eliciting no response, until the ants disappeared from view, prompting the elder to slightly move his neck and utter a sound like an attempt to shoo.
"He doesn’t recognize you at all?" Xiao Xian inquired amusedly, having had frequent visits to Fang Street Elderly Home due to her closeness with Mao Dazhu. Most elders there, like Yu Shan Yang, are healthy though their children are busy. A few have special conditions, suffering from dementia or worsening memory.
Even in such states, at least when their children or relatives visit, they would exhibit some reaction.
Yet, Elder Hu Song’s memory loss is prehensive; he remembers neither people nor events.
"We need to have a good conversation with him. I’ve always suspected Mr. Hu possesses unique secrets for beekeeping. The research center’s batch of Queen bees isn’t the first bee strain, honestly, I’ve been tasked since Mr. Hu’s incident years ago, still with no progress," Locke explained. The batch of Queen bees he successfully bred was brought from Hu Song’s son’s farm hive, entrusted to Quinn for cultivation.
"Are you sure the bee strain originated from the original farm? And regarding the person responsible for cultivation, is there a chance..." Xiao Xian had been at Locke’s research center for a while. Those Queen bees were of substantially higher quality than ordinary bees, but she had never seen the original ones, hence could not conclude directly.
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