Chapter 001: Youth

Although at this time the chief designer had already proclaimed the slogan of reform and opening up, a grand construction was also vigorously underway in a city along the southern coast

Ye Tian mumbled something under his breath, yet his movements did not slow down in the slightest. After propping himself up on a dirt wall that was about the same height as him with his right hand, he leaped up and nimbly flipped out.

Master, I assure you that I hold you in the highest regard.

As the saying goes, no one knows a child better than their father. Upon hearing Ye Tian's voice, the middle-aged man in the courtyard straightened his posture and chuckled while scolding. He certainly understood his son's knack for causing trouble, having been reprimanded by the teacher several times each year.

However, the teacher always favors students with good academic performance. Although he appears strict on the surface, he still has a fondness for them. After calling the parents a few times, Yu Haoran and Ye Dongping became friends.

Sigh, I suppose I should go to the master today.

Just as Ye Tian and a few others were quietly discussing whether the black mole on Er Lengzi's wife's buttocks was on the left side or the right side, a sudden explosion echoed at the entrance of the courtyard

After leaving the yard of Er Lengzi's house, Ye Tian did not return home but instead ran directly to the hillside behind the village. He did not want to get beaten on the first day of his vacation. It would not be too late to return home after hiding on the mountain for a few days until his father's anger subsided.

If it weren't for the fact that there are no monks at Maoshan, after watching the screening of "Shaolin Temple," Ye Tiandu would probably dare to shave his head and become a monk

Due to the winding terrain resembling the character "已", it is named Juequ Mountain. The Daoists refer to "Juequ of Jinling as a blessed land for nurturing the true self, a spiritual realm for becoming a deity"

Hmm? What sound is that

The children in these villages, upon reaching school age, must walk five to six miles to attend school in the town.

Ye Tian tossed his backpack aside and, with a cheerful smile, picked up a wooden board from the side of the door, on the top of which was a nail driven in.

Ye Tian was also unaware of how old Daoist Li was, but the old Daoist often mentioned that back in the day when Commander Chen Yi was conducting guerrilla warfare at Maoshan, he would refer to him as "big uncle"

As soon as Ye Tian entered the courtyard, he began to shout loudly. Unlike the Jiangnan dialect he had just spoken with his friends, Ye Tian was now speaking authentic Mandarin, which seemed to carry a hint of Beijing accent.

Looking at the empty bowl on the table, Ye Dongping chuckled and scolded lightly, then stood up and said: "Everyone go out and have fun, Teacher Yu, I will fry some peanuts, you can take your time to talk about your matter"

Walking among a few people, Ye Tian responded to the chubby boy's words, saying: "What corn are we eating? Come to my house for fish tonight, and there will also be crabs and eels."

Brother Ye, rest assured, we will not speak of it.

On a small path in the mountains, three or four boys, around nine or ten years old, slung army-green patched backpacks over their shoulders. Their small eyes darted back and forth, searching the sides of the road, while their cloth shoes, with exposed toes, restlessly kicked at the small stones on the ground

The adults were drinking and chatting, while the little ones were not idle at all. Their chopsticks flew about; first, they picked up a piece of fish and stuffed it into their mouths, then buried a slice of eel in their bowls, and finally, their eyes were fixed on the next target, each one resembling a little wolf cub.

Lizhuang is not very large, with only twenty-three households in total. It takes just a few minutes to run a complete circle from one end of the village to the other.

Suddenly, a thunderclap resounded, causing the entire temple to tremble. Ye Tian turned to glance outside, unable to suppress his concern for the old Taoist priest.

However, in this remote little mountain village, the children who are at the age of "half-grown boys, exhausting their parents" spend their leisure time discussing food the most, aside from playing.

Teacher Yu

The little chubby boy's eyes twinkled as he came up with a mischievous idea. It wasn't that these children were maturing early; rather, it was the sheer boredom of this remote mountain village that left them with no outlet for their energy

However, entering the 1980s, after experiencing a decade of turmoil, Maoshan appeared somewhat diminished. Although it underwent restoration in the early 1980s, it still struggled to regain the incense of its prosperous period

A few little ones were chatting and had already spotted the village not far away, immediately quickening their pace as they ran towards the village entrance. A yellow dog, which had been squatting under the big locust tree at the village entrance, quickly tucked its tail between its legs and retreated upon seeing these little ones.

Although no one in Lizhuang has installed a television yet, the summer nights in the countryside are still quite lively. After dinner, people come out to enjoy the cool air and chat, while the sounds of frogs croaking and insects chirping in the fields add a touch of vitality to this small village

Maoshan is located in the water town of Jiangnan, where streams are abundant at the foot of the mountain. However, people seem to have little interest in crabs, and very few catch them for consumption. In contrast, there are many people fishing for eels and catching fish. In this era of material scarcity, people are also finding ways to improve their lives

There is nothing, Dad, I am here to help you kill the eel

The Taoist priest on the altar is dressed in hemp clothing, with his hair tied up in a bun. His left hand rests at his side in front of his chest, while his right hand is raised above his head, holding a palm-sized clay compass. The entire posture appears rather peculiar

Just as Ye Tian reached the edge of the wall, a cry of pain came from behind him. Turning around, he saw that Er Lengzi had twisted the ear of Pang Dun, who was howling with his mouth wide open.

In this era, boarding is not in vogue; students must obediently hurry home after school. However, it is fortunate that there are no large wild beasts near Maoshan, and the well-trodden path minimizes the risk of any unexpected incidents.

Ye Tian nodded; this was not the first time they had done such a thing. It is said that ever since Li Lengzi's wedding day when Ye Tian was five years old, he had crawled under the bed of the newlywed's house and the next day went to share the story with the villagers in vivid detail

He placed the wooden board on the ground, and Ye Tian reached out to grab an eel from the nearby basin. Skillfully, he pinned it to the wooden board, and with his right hand, he produced a small knife from somewhere. With a gentle stroke, he sliced open the belly of the eel

Just when Ye Tian was still feeling fortunate to have escaped a calamity, he suddenly felt a sharp pain on the top of his head, as the right hand of the statue, raised above, struck directly on Ye Tian's little head.

Unlike the Daoist temple at the main peak of Maoshan, which enshrines the Three Pure Ones, this temple contains a statue of an ordinary Daoist priest

Brother Ye, the holiday starts tomorrow. Should we celebrate tonight? How about sneaking into Li Erlengzi's cornfield to steal some corn to eat

After a quick dip in the water, Ye Tian swiftly moved his right hand across the wooden board a few times. With a flick of his wrist, a yellow eel weighing over one pound fell piece by piece into the prepared enamel basin beside him

Although the old man is somewhat eccentric and constantly forces him to memorize difficult texts such as "The Ma Yi Physiognomy" and "The Water Mirror Collection," he truly possesses remarkable skills. Ye Tian has only learned some Qi guiding techniques from him, yet he has become invincible among his peers.

This wine... lacks flavor; nothing beats the strength of Erguotou. Ye Dongping downed a glass, shook his head, and seemed to recall something, his gaze slightly dimming.

This temple is not very large; apart from the main hall at the entrance, there are only two side rooms at the back. Due to years of neglect, the main door has become dilapidated. Last year, an old man chopped it up for firewood, which saved Ye Tian the trouble of knocking on the door

The chubby boy, with a fawning expression, leaned close to Ye Tian and asked, "Brother Ye, did you manage to see clearly whether there was anything under her skirt by placing the mirror on the ground?"

"Pang Dun, Er Dan, you can just let your families know and come over." Upon reaching the village entrance, Ye Tian stopped, as his home was right at the village's edge

Where is it, Dad? I am hungry; let's eat.

However, it seems that after five years of elementary school, Ye Tian scored full marks in every exam but never brought home a single certificate. Instead, he either tied his female classmates' braids to their chairs or threw firecrackers into the boys' restroom, which certainly did not spare him from his parents' reprimands

Such heavy rain, I wonder if anything will happen to the old man

"Accomplished, but you all be careful; if you get caught, don't expose me."

... ...

A chubby little boy looked at Ye Tian with envy; being able to grow as stout as a weight at the age of eight or nine was undoubtedly the result of stuffing his mouth whenever he saw something edible

Brother Ye, how about this... after we have dinner, we go watch Er Lengzi's wife take a bath? I know Er Lengzi is going to the reservoir to set fishing nets today

Ye Tian glanced at the teacher with a hint of guilt, but he also knew that ever since the homeroom teacher became friends with his father, there had been fewer instances of him being reported. It seemed that he would be able to avoid trouble again today

"It smells wonderful, Lao Ye. I bought some yellow wine when I returned from town. Let's have a few drinks together..."

Seeing Yu Haoran's expression, Ye Dongping smiled and said: "Teacher Yu, has this kid caused trouble again? If you don't discipline him for three days, he will take over the roof. You should treat him like your own child, and don't hold back when it's time to teach him a lesson"

During the Western Han Dynasty, the three brothers of the Mao family—Mao Ying, Mao Gu, and Mao Zhong—came to Juequ Mountain in Shaanxi's Xianyang to cultivate their practice and perform good deeds, benefiting the people. In honor of the Mao family's contributions, Juequ Mountain was renamed Sanmao Mountain, commonly referred to as "Mao Mountain".

Although they are not yet of an age to experience changes in certain parts of their bodies, it serves as good capital for boasting among their schoolmates. Therefore, whenever a few little ones catch a simpleton not with the librarian, they always engage in this activity with great enthusiasm

The more than two-meter-high clay sculpture, after falling from the offering platform, shattered into countless pieces scattered all over the ground. One wonders if the ancestor in the hemp robe could have foreseen such a calamity a thousand years ago

Ye Tian wandered around the back room of the main hall, only to find that the old Taoist was not in the temple. Scratching his head, he returned to the main hall and bowed to a statue enshrined in the center of the hall.

"Master, Master, I have arrived." Ye Tian plunged into the temple through the rain curtain

You little rascal, why are you making such a loud noise? Are you up to no good again

Of course, Ye Tian himself did not understand what that "hmm hmm ah ah" meant, and even now he has not quite figured it out

The village where Ye Tian resides is called Li Zhuang. As the name suggests, apart from Ye Tian and his son, all the other inhabitants share the surname Li. It is said that during the Taiping Rebellion, two brothers fled from northern Jiangsu to this place, which led to the establishment of this village

Indeed, Yu Haoran did not mention the events that occurred at school. Once several little ones gathered around the table, they raised their cups filled with wine and clinked them with Ye Dongping.

After locating the eel hole, you can place the hook inside. If an eel bites the hook, push it in forcefully to ensure the hook is fully inside its mouth, then slightly adjust the angle and pull it out of the hole. Quickly use your other hand to grasp the neck of the eel to remove it from the hole.

Of course I saw clearly, but... I was spotted by her after just a glance

The area on the head is where the capillaries are most densely packed; even a minor scrape can result in uncontrollable bleeding. Ye Tian's small body fell to the ground, and before long, the blood had stained the ground around him red

Ye Tian said with a displeased expression that this little girl was too easily provoked, running to tell the teacher while crying, which resulted in him not receiving the Outstanding Student award despite scoring full marks this year

When eating was mentioned, the other little ones, except for the small boy in the middle, all had their eyes shining and couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

Before long, a large enamel basin filled with stir-fried eel slices, a braised fish, and a bowl of fish head soup were placed on the table, along with some homegrown vegetables. In rural terms, these dishes could be considered quite sumptuous.

Eat, eat, come on, Lao Ye, let's leave first

Although there are only three dishes, the quantity is quite sufficient. The fish alone weighs six to seven pounds, and with three pounds of eel slices, it is enough for five to six people to eat

Dad, I am back. I scored a perfect score again this year...

Yu Haoran set down his wine glass and said, "Old Ye, I happen to have something I want to tell you."

Although the trees on Maoshan are tall and the forest dense, Ye Tian is not afraid. When he was five years old, he dared to venture into the old forest on the mountain. However, he mistakenly climbed the wrong peak and, by coincidence, met an old Taoist priest who claimed to be surnamed Li in a dilapidated and neglected Taoist temple. He was persuaded to take him as his master.

However, with the return of the educated youth, the ancestral hall that once housed more than ten people now only accommodates Ye Tian and his son, making the spacious area appear somewhat dilapidated

"Dad, Teacher Yu, we are full." Three to five minutes later, the dishes on the table were swept away like a picture book, and Ye Tian stood up, patting his little belly, his eyes gazing towards the door.

Looking at his student, Yu Haoran found himself both amused and exasperated. Ye Tian's academic performance was undeniably impressive; not only was he among the top in the town's elementary school, but he also ranked highly in the county. However, he simply did not apply himself, as his mind was constantly preoccupied with play.

Brother Yezi, let me have a look

You little brats, are you looking for death?

At the foothills near the boundary of Jintan, several small villages are surrounded, the larger ones having no more than a hundred households, while the smaller ones may consist of only a dozen families. Every morning and evening, one can see wisps of smoke rising from various places at the foot of the mountain.

Just as Ye Tian was gazing outside, he suddenly heard a "quack" sound behind him. Turning around, he discovered that the clay statue was toppling directly in his direction

Upon hearing that there was fish to eat, several little ones immediately began to drool. Uncle Ye's skill in cooking fish is truly exceptional; even the plain boiled fish soup can leave one with an endless aftertaste.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Ye Tian immediately became much more obedient. He stood up and respectfully called out "Teacher." The newcomer was not only his homeroom teacher but also Yu Qingya's father. Who knows if he has come today to report a complaint?

It is a renowned Taoist mountain located in Jiangsu Province, China, and serves as the birthplace of the Shangqing School of Taoism. It is referred to by Taoists as the "Shangqing Zongtan" and is honored with the titles of "First Blessed Land" and "Eighth Cave Heaven"

Upon encountering Er Leng Zi blocking the courtyard, several little ones immediately scattered like birds and beasts, rushing to either side. The rural walls are only a little over one meter high, and even the chubby ones can easily climb over them.

Look at how greedy you are; what is there to eat with the yellow eel? The crab is much more delicious. This is just the right time of year to eat crabs

Like Ye Dongping, Yu Haoran is also an incoming educated youth. However, due to finding a partner locally, he did not return to Shanghai. Since 1977 or 1978, he has been teaching in an elementary school.

With a burst of laughter, a person of similar age to Ye Dongping walked in. Behind him followed a few chubby boys, each of whom appeared timid, casting furtive glances at Ye Tian.

Ye Tian looked up, and the statue of the Ma Yi Daoist was already pressing down on him like a small mountain. Ye Tian hurriedly stepped back, and due to his short stature, he barely managed to avoid the head of the ancestral master.

Little rascal, each one can eat more than the last

It takes approximately one hour to walk from Lizhuang to the Taoist temple on the mountain. Halfway through the journey, a sudden downpour began. By the time Ye Tian arrived at the temple, he was completely drenched, resembling a drowned rat.

It is easy to say, but mastering the right timing is extremely difficult. Ye Tian has become the leader among the children of several nearby villages, not only because he can defeat all his peers, but also due to his exceptional skill in catching yellow eels, which even many adults cannot match

In terms of family background, Ye Tian's family is considered an outsider and can be regarded as one of the poorest among these families. However, Ye Tian's father always finds ways to ensure that his son receives proper nutrition; although there is no meat, fish has never been lacking.

The father and son had relied on each other for so many years, clearly not for the first time working together. After Ye Tian cleaned the eels, Ye Dongping's lard in the pot was also heated. After adding some chopped green onions and chili peppers, he poured the eel slices into the pot. With a sizzling sound, a fragrant aroma filled the courtyard.

This fool

The torrential rain outside intensified, with flashes of lightning ravaging the sky. The dilapidated temple swayed precariously in the storm, seemingly on the verge of collapse at any moment

Ye Tian understood the temperament of Er Leng Zi; if he were caught in the act, it would surely be known by the entire village. He did not believe that having helped Er Leng Zi carry a chicken during his wedding would earn him any special treatment.

Ye Tian's appearance bears a resemblance to his father's, about sixty percent alike. However, compared to Ye Dongping's resolute face, Ye Tian's facial structure appears somewhat softer. When Ye Tian was young, visitors from the village would often praise him, saying what a beautiful girl he was. This led Ye Tian, at the age of five, to climb up Maoshan alone, claiming he wanted to seek a master to learn skills and become a man.

On the exterior wall of the青石 house in the village, remnants of phrases such as "We must fight against private criticism and repair" and "Carry the Proletarian Cultural Revolution through to the end!" can still be seen, written in lime wash.

Brother Yezi, you must have caught that eel, you are truly impressive, I can never seem to catch one.

According to the words of the old Taoist, this is the ancestor of their Maiyi lineage. Although he does not receive offerings from the mortal world, he is to be sincerely worshipped.

Although it was a clay sculpture's hand, the force was not to be underestimated. With a single slap, blood immediately flowed down from Ye Tian's head, and he felt a darkness enveloping his vision before losing consciousness.

During the Tang and Song dynasties, the Maoshan Daoism reached its peak. In the front mountains and back ridges, between the peaks and valleys, there were more than three hundred Daoist buildings of various sizes, totaling over five thousand rooms. There were thousands of Daoist priests, leading to the saying of "Three Palaces, Five Temples, and Seventy-Two Maoshan Hermitages"

Maoshan

Catching eels is indeed a technical skill. The tools are quite simple; a bicycle tire tube will suffice. One end is sharpened to a point and bent into a hook, while the other end is shaped into a circle

Yu Haoran glanced at Ye Tian, who had a face full of innocence, and said with a smile, "You little rascal, studying is good, but you are too mischievous. You must develop in all aspects: moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor skills."

When Ye Tian was young, he did not know who Commander Chen was. However, after starting school and learning about Chen Yi's background, he often joked about the old Taoist's boasting. The old Taoist was not angry; he simply smiled and remained silent.

Beneath the window of a small courtyard home, three little heads are peering inside, and by the light of the moon outside, one can vaguely see the pale body inside the darkened room.

Damn it, Fatty, didn't you say that Erlengzi would only come back at midnight? If I had known earlier, I would have divined it myself

Master, where is the person

Ye Tian's family originally had a ancestral hall in the village, but during those ten years, the ancestral tablets were smashed by the fervent young Red Guards who were constantly seeking to "eliminate feudal superstition," and the ancestral hall was transformed into a residence for the educated youth sent to the countryside

Ye Tian curled his lips, waved his fist, and cast a threatening glance at several companions beside him, saying: "No one is allowed to tell my dad about what happened with Yu Qingya crying today, otherwise..."