“Great Master, Great Master, was that peach tree really made to appear by you?”
“No, it grew from the ground.”
“Mr. Chen, you’re tricking . How could it grow so tall in just one night?”
Zi Su was eating a peach, with her bright, watery big eyes fixed on Mr. Chen in front of her.
In her heart, she was certain it was made to appear by the Great Master.
Chen Changsheng laughed and said, “Things in this world aren’t all settled, like what you see right now in this Heaven and Earth. What shape do you think it has?”
Zi Su said, “The sky is round and the earth is square. Master talked about that long ago.”
But Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, “No.”
Hearing this, Zi Su argued, “Great Master, don’t lie to . How can the sky not be round? How can the earth not be square?”
“It’s not a round sky and a square earth. Actually, this Heaven and Earth is a ball with layers wrapped around it. But the ball is too big, so big that you can’t notice it. That’s why you think what you step on is flat.”
Zi Su pouted and said, “Great Master, that’s nonsense!”
Chen Changsheng smiled and said, “Then, just go ahead and think it’s nonsense.”
Zi Su was a cute child, with a childlike heart, much more fun than her three senior brothers.
“I won’t speak to the Great Master anymore. I’m going to find my senior brothers.”
“Go ahead.”
Seeing Zi Su walk out of the yard, Chen Changsheng picked up a book and started reading.
Xuan Huang ca back to the pavilion carrying a hoe.
He had spent the whole morning clearing out a spot on the Back Mountain, at least getting rid of all the weeds.
Xuan Huang had heard what the Master said to Zi Su earlier, so he asked, “Master, is this Heaven and Earth really a ball?”
Chen Changsheng, seeing he was curious, answered, “It should be.”
“Should be?” Xuan Huang asked.
Chen Changsheng said, “If you one day stood high up and looked far away and saw a curved line, then it would be true. If not, then I was wrong.”
“How high is the high place you talk about?”
“For example, if you stacked three mountains like the one under our feet, that would probably be high enough.”
After hearing this, Xuan Huang nodded, then turned the Master’s words over in his mind.
The Master’s words shouldn’t be false.
But without seeing it with his own eyes, he still found it hard to accept.
Chen Changsheng picked up the book to keep reading but suddenly rembered sothing.
After all, he had promised Old Man Zhang the day before yesterday, but it slipped his mind.
Chen Changsheng closed the book, stood up, and said, “I think of sothing and have to go down the mountain.”
Xuan Huang asked, “Will you co back to Flowing Cloud Temple tonight?”
Chen Changsheng thought a little and answered, “Hard to say.”
“But if I haven’t returned after dark, I’ll probably be gone for a long ti.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Chen Changsheng walked toward the outside of the temple, and Xuan Huang got up to see him off.
At the temple gate, Chen Changsheng paused, turned around, and said, “Please look after the books in the Library Pavilion for . I’ll need them when I co back.”
“Okay.”
Xuan Huang said yes and watched the Master go down the mountain.
He guessed Chen Changsheng would leave, probably like every other year going away for years.
Chen Changsheng went straight to Autumn Moon Market after going down the mountain.
The Autumn Moon Brew was sold out, so the tavern had fewer guests. Xiaoliu had so free ti and was dozing at a table in the tavern.
Chen Changsheng walked into the tavern and sat at Xiaoliu’s table.
Xiaoliu, who was holding his chin, lost his balance, woke up, and jumped in shock when his eyes opened.
“Whoa!”
Xiaoliu sat up fast. Looking at the Master sitting in front of him, he patted his chest and said, “Mr. Chen, how co your walk made no sound? You scared badly.”
Chen Changsheng laughed and said, “It’s because you slept too soundly.”
Xiaoliu cald down and said, “Mr. Chen, wait a mont. I’ll fetch the Manager right away.”
“Hang on—”
Chen Changsheng ant to stop him.
But he saw Xiaoliu hurry toward the tavern’s backyard, shouting while walking.
“Manager! Manager! Mr. Chen is here!”
In the backyard, Old Man Zhang sitting in a rocking chair snapped awake at the words “Mr. Chen.”
He got up from the rocking chair.
By then, Xiaoliu was right before him.
“Who did you say ca?” Old Man Zhang asked.
Xiaoliu said, “It’s Mr. Chen.”
“Help out quickly.”
“Manager, take it slow.”
Old Man Zhang supported by Xiaoliu reached the tavern.
After sitting down, Old Man Zhang started, “Mr. Chen, you didn’t leave? I thought I’d have to wait another three years.”
“I stayed longer this year,” Chen Changsheng replied with a smile.
Old Man Zhang burst out laughing, his old self missing a front tooth now so it looked a bit funny.
Chen Changsheng said, “I told you the day before yesterday I’d co find you in the afternoon, but so things got delayed. One night late turned into two days, but at least I made it.”
Old Man Zhang replied with a grin, “I’m lucky you rembered . I don’t ask for a thing.”
Chen Changsheng smiled back, then asked, “Is there still Autumn Moon Brew?”
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Old Man Zhang paused and said, “For Autumn Moon Brew, I’m afraid… not.”
Chen Changsheng waved it off, not bothered. “If not, that’s fine. I’ll co back for so next ti.”
Old Man Zhang looked at Xiaoliu and ordered, “Xiaoliu, go bring out that jar of aged brew from my room for .”
Xiaoliu went to get the wine.
Chen Changsheng chatted idly with Old Man Zhang.
Later, Xiaoliu brought the wine and set down two plates of snacks.
Seeing the Manager drink joyfully, Xiaoliu bit his tongue at first, but he got worried as the Manager poured one bowl after another.
So he said, “Manager, you should really drink less. Doctor Tong said before that you shouldn’t have alcohol now.”
Old Man Zhang felt upset by this and said, “Keep quiet! I don’t have many years left. Can’t you even let have a sip?”
Chen Changsheng said, “You have to listen to the doctor.”
Chen Changsheng moved the wine jar aside and pointed at the wine in Old Man Zhang’s bowl. “The last bowl.”
Old Man Zhang said, “How can that be? If you don’t get to enjoy it, that’s rude of . No, no.”
“Hey.”
Chen Changsheng slid the jar farther back. “Wine can be drunk anyti. A small sip refreshes the spirit, but too much harms it. Better stop at one bowl.”
Old Man Zhang smacked his lips, eyes glued to the wine greedily.
But since the Master insisted, he had to obey. He gave a helpless sigh.
Chen Changsheng asked, “What illness is it? You can’t even drink alcohol now?” Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on n0velfire
Old Man Zhang stretched out his leg and sighed. “It’s this leg trouble.”
Chen Changsheng cast a look and saw through the skin: rot inside the bone.
This condition really ruled out drinking.
“So serious…”
Chen Changsheng went on, “If this goes on, soon you may not even be able to stand.”
Old Man Zhang didn’t seem to mind much. “If I can’t stand, I can’t stand. That’s how it goes at my age; little illnesses happen.”
Chen Changsheng thought for a mont, picked up Old Man Zhang’s wine bowl, brought it to himself, and lifted the wine jar to fill it up.
Then he slid it back toward Old Man Zhang.
Old Man Zhang looked confused. “Mr. Chen, isn’t it forbidden to drink?”
Chen Changsheng smiled gently and said, “This bowl can be drunk.”
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