Chu Xun was stunned upon hearing this; no matter what, he never expected Li Shoutian to say such a thing.
Just as he was about to speak, he realized that Li Shoutian's hand had let go at so unknown point.
The old man's already cloudy eyes beca incomparably bright at this mont.
It was as if he saw sothing, his face full of pride and joy.
"Dad, why are you here?"
"Dad, that old well is still our village's!"
"If you don't believe , ask older brother."
The aged voice ca to an abrupt halt, and there was no more sound.
Chu Xun took out a new ginseng slice and put it into Li Shoutian's mouth.
No new miracle occurred.
A faint sigh subsequently passed through the doors and windows, entering the ears of the anxious Li Guangmao standing at the door.
"Co in."
Li Guangmao hurriedly pushed the door open and went in. Seeing Chu Xun standing by the bed, he then looked towards the bed.
His old father had already closed his eyes, with no other movent.
Li Guangmao seed to understand sothing. He fell to his knees, weeping bitterly.
"Dad!"
That year, the old Village Chief's second son, holding a wooden club, pushed the young man who wanted to fight shoulder to shoulder with the villagers back into the courtyard.
"For the matter of fighting for water, there are us holding the line, we don't need you. Go, go, go, stay honestly at ho!"
That year, the middle-aged man who had just beco the Village Chief bowed and scraped to the county yan officials who ca to collect the wasteland tax, secretly slipping so silver over.
"It's not easy for orphans and widows, please be accommodating, sir."
That year, the Village Chief led a farming ox back to the village.
"I ran all over the surrounding ten miles and eight villages to find such a good ox!"
Year after year, he had done too many things.
His hair turned white one by one, and his teeth fell out one by one.
The spring silkworm's thread only ends when it dies; the candle's tears only dry when it turns to ash.
As his lifespan neared its end, he did not persuade Chu Xun to let go of his hatred.
Instead, he used the favor of the whole village to tell him that if he was going to kill, he had to kill them all cleanly, and not bring future troubles to the people around him.
He was old.
But he was still the sa man who, carrying his dead old father on his back back then, roared to the whole village, "That old well is our village's now!", a real man who dared to fight and risk his life!
Chu Xun even thought that if the old Village Chief and Shitou's identities were swapped, perhaps he would be drawn on the New Year pictures even faster.
Li Shoutian's passing represented the complete curtain call of the older generation in Pinecone Village.
In the village, there was no longer anyone of his generation.
On the day of the burial, all the young and old of the whole village were present.
There weren't that many rules; everyone wanted to co and bid farewell in person.
The rain poured down, as if the sky was tilting.
This ti, Chu Xun did not form a spell seal.
The rain fell on its own.
Zhang Anxiu leaned against Chu Xun with tearful eyes, choking with sobs, "He will be reincarnated into a good family, right?"
Chu Xun looked up at the sky and nodded, "Right."
A spell seal was ford.
The rain grew heavier.
"Man, have a good journey."
---
Year 41 of the Kingdom of Jing.
Huan'er participated in the spring examination. After passing the tropolitan examination and the palace examination, he narrowly lost to a strategy essay titled "Strategy on Guarding the Foundation to Consolidate the State, and Adapting to Changes to Prosper the State" by Dong Xingjian of Xunyang Prefecture, and "only" obtained the Second Place Graduate.
This person was quite bold. When Huan'er returned ho in glory, he specifically ntioned it to Chu Xun.
"There are three points in this strategy essay that are most admirable."
"First, issue a decree to limit the amount of land occupied by wealthy gentry. Those who exceed the limit shall be ordered to distribute the land to poor peasants, and be exempted from taxes for three years."
"Second, streamline officials and simplify administration, eliminating redundant personnel. Anyone who has nothing to do and no achievents to be examined shall all be dismissed and returned to the fields to farm."
"Third, promote education to clarify human relations. Order all counties and townships to set up additional private schools, hire erudite scholars to teach, and all commoners can learn."
"If this continues, the myriad people will be happy and peaceful, the territory will be tranquil, and it will surely initiate a great prosperity for the Kingdom of Jing!"
"His Majesty was very pleased and personally appointed Brother Dong as the Top Graduate, letting him enter the Hanlin Academy as a Compiler, additionally conferring him the title of Crown Prince's Librarian, and concurrently managing the co-organizing affairs of the three ministries, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Rites."
In Huan'er's words, he greatly admired Dong Xingjian, without the slightest feeling of jealousy.
However, after Chu Xun heard this, he sighed and asked, "You aren't very familiar with him, right?"
"We drank a cup of wine and spoke a few words, does that count as familiar or not?" Huan'er asked.
Chu Xun said, "No matter what, stay away from this person. If you want to associate with him, wait until ten years later."
Huan'er was stunned upon hearing this, his face full of astonishnt as he said, "Uncle, how are your words exactly the sa as what my teacher said? He also told to stay away from Dong Xingjian, and consider whether to associate with him ten years later."
"Could it be that you don't like this person?"
Chu Xun shook his head and said, "Daring to say what others dare not say, truly possessing great talent and great virtue, how could I not like him."
"Then why..."
Chu Xun did not explain, only saying, "In short, listen to and Lord Tang, wait until ten years later."
Huan'er was puzzled and helpless, but since his most revered ntor and uncle both said so, even if he didn't understand, he could only comply.
A year quickly passed.
In the early spring season, the weather had not yet turned warm.
Chu Xun stood by the field, forming a spell seal in his hand.
The still sowhat hard soil silently beca loose and soft, allowing air to pour in.
Following that was a fine water mist, covering the rice paddies that had just revealed their sprout tips.
The tender yellow tinged with pale green quickly absorbed the water mist containing faint spiritual energy, leaving not the slightest trace.
Chu Xun folded his hands in his sleeves, strolling leisurely on the field ridge.
Wherever he went, everything was full of vigorous vitality.
Even the wild grass on the field ridge sprouted half a month earlier than others'.
The old water buffalo followed behind, its tail constantly swishing.
A few small weasels grabbed its tail, swaying along with it, as if playing.
The old water buffalo didn't mind, because on its back it was also carrying three crows, and a few field mice that had sohow climbed up.
The crows seed sowhat displeased to be squeezed together with the field mice. Whenever they got slightly closer, they would stretch out their beaks to peck.
Frightening the field mice into squeaking, hiding back one mont, and secretly crawling forward the next.
Chu Xun looked back and smiled, "They won't take up much space anyway, why be so domineering."
The three crows cawed, and one suddenly flew up, landing on Chu Xun's shoulder.
Its size of nearly three feet was intimidating, yet like a child, it brought its head close to Chu Xun's ear, cawing non-stop.
It was unknown whether it was complaining or crying grievance.
At this ti, shouts ca from behind, "Village Chief! Village Chief!"
"Grandpa Village Chief! Second Uncle wait for , let say it!"
Chu Xun stopped his steps and looked back, only to see Zhang Erzhu running over with large strides.
Behind him followed a five or six-year-old girl, tanned pitch-black at such a young age.
A mouthful of clean and neat white teeth looked exceptionally conspicuous, like snowflakes wrapped in a pile of charcoal.
The two ran up to him. Zhang Erzhu subconsciously first glanced at the various "accessories" hanging on the old water buffalo's body, and then said, "The grain official from the county yan is here, sothing major has happened, he asked you to hurry back!"
After Li Shoutian passed away, Chu Xun t everyone's expectations and beca the Village Chief of Pinecone Village.
It wasn't that he wanted to do it, but everyone in the village said that if he didn't take it, they would rather this position remain empty forever.
Young people like Qi Ermao, who had played with Chu Xun since childhood, were now the backbone of the village, and even more so, Chu Xun's most loyal supporters.
Other than Brother Xun, no one else was qualified to be their Village Chief!
Chu Xun raised an eyebrow, "What major event has happened?"
Zhang Erzhu's expression was quite complex, unable to tell if it was excitent or sadness, "His Majesty... His Majesty has passed away!"
The girl behind had just run up. Hearing Zhang Erzhu speak, she directly sat down on the field ridge, kicking her legs and crying out loud.
"I told you to let say it! Let say it!"
The newly sprouted grass buds were kicked by her, flying everywhere along with the mud.
Chu Xun was stunned upon hearing this. Although he had expected it early on, witnessing it personally now was another kind of feeling.
That Emperor who ended the troubled tis and established the Kingdom of Jing, ultimately still couldn't withstand the passage of ti.
The county yan issued a notice, "The current Emperor has passed away, and the new Emperor has ascended the throne. The imperial court orders that from this day forward, the whole world shall mourn together."
The commoners of the Kingdom of Jing were required to wear mourning clothes for a month, were not allowed to slaughter pigs or sheep, weddings were postponed, and even the theatrical stages in the county were torn down.
The Crown Prince succeeded to the throne, with the reign title Yongji.
A year and a half later.
That Top Graduate Dong Xingjian, whom Huan'er admired, was found choked to death in his ho.
What choked him to death was a strategy essay.
Titled "Strategy on Guarding the Foundation to Consolidate the State, and Adapting to Changes to Prosper the State".
It had been reprinted hundreds of tis and forcefully stuffed into his mouth, bursting his throat.
[End of Chapter]
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