Chapter 5, The Blessing of a Meal
Lin Junxuan shook his head, hung the pendant chain around the old man's neck, and then walked away. This pendant chain was merely lent to the old man; once winter passed, Lin Junxuan would reclaim it. If he were to truly give it to the old man, Lin Junxuan would be reluctant, after all, this pendant chain could help him find his great-grandfather
Lin Junxuan was momentarily taken aback. In this city, those without a source of livelihood would be fortunate to have something to eat; even moldy meals were a rarity, and for many, having fish was a luxury. He only thought of finding something for the elderly to eat, forgetting that the elderly might not be able to chew fish.
Hmm. Lin Junxuan instinctively nodded; the old man's reaction surprised him somewhat, yet it also seemed to be within reason
"Hehe, child, since this necklace has been passed down from your ancestors, it is certainly very important. Take good care of it." The old man smiled kindly, grasped Lin Junxuan's hand, and placed the pendant into his palm. Without the light brought by the star-shaped pendant, the surroundings grew dark again: "Child, remember, never let others see this pendant easily"
I am too tired, I can no longer walk. The old man shook his head
"Please wait a moment, I will get you some hot food," said Lin Junxuan as he stood up, still holding the fish, and walked towards the east of the city. He recalled his newly recognized teacher, Gan Ruye.
Bang! Lin Junxuan pressed down repeatedly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Finally, the elderly man on the ground convulsed once, followed by a series of hoarse coughs: "Cough cough cough!" This coughing sound carried an infinite sense of weariness and hoarseness. Lin Junxuan did not dare to relax for a moment and hurriedly patted the old man's back to help him breathe.
It might be frozen. Lin Junxuan hesitated for a moment, but still took off the star-shaped pendant from around his neck and hung it on the old man, who remained completely still.
"Elder, please have a seat; I will be back shortly." After taking a few steps, Lin Junxuan returned again.
After a while, Lin Junxuan reappeared before the old man with a bowl of small fish: "Old man, this necklace is for you. With it, you can keep warm. However, every night at the hour of Chen, you must return the necklace to me—I need it for fishing"
Lin Junxuan hurried over, stumbling several times in the darkness. By the time Lin Junxuan arrived, the carriage had long since vanished into the densely packed alleyways. In the direction from which the angry shouts came, Lin Junxuan saw a dark figure lying beside the path. As he approached, he realized that the figure was the fortune-telling old man who had recently appeared in Lin'an City. The old man lay collapsed by the path, his bamboo staff, inscribed with the words "No Omission in Calculation," lying broken beside him, already snapped into two pieces. Lin Junxuan surmised that it must have been crushed by the carriage.
Hmm. The old man replied vaguely, not refusing, and with Lin Junxuan's assistance, he walked to a sheltered corner by the wall: "Put me down."
"Old fool, are you seeking death? Get lost, get lost!" That was the angry shout of a man, accompanied by the sound of a whip cracking in the darkness, mixed with the noise of a cart's wheels. Lin Junxuan looked from a distance and could only vaguely see the flickering light of a lantern swaying in the darkness, gradually moving away.
"Child, what is the matter?" the old man asked
"Elder, are you still able to move?" Lin Junxuan inquired
Strange. The young man in white gazed at the empty woods, furrowing his brow, and vanished into the forest like the wind
Lin Junxuan said nothing, only stating: "Elder, you have been hungry all day, please eat." The elder turned around, took the chopsticks, and quietly ate the still warm meal that Lin Junxuan had brought in the darkness. In the dark, Lin Junxuan faintly heard the sound of water droplets falling.
Holding a bowl of fish, Lin Junxuan returned to the academy. After placing down the gray bowl, Lin Junxuan lay down beside the charcoal fire. For the first time, Lin Junxuan did not sleep in the woods outside the city with a book.
The old man's voice sounded weak and feeble. Lin Junxuan estimated that this elderly person must have gone a whole day without a single grain of rice, and was starving.
Lin Junxuan stood up. Unable to carry Gan Ruye, he took a blanket from his bedroom and covered him with it. He then moved the charcoal fire slightly further away and added some more charcoal to reignite the flames in the brazier
The old man seemed to be very hungry, and with so much food, he quickly finished it all. He reached out his hand and pushed the bowl in front of Lin Junxuan: "Child, thank you. I have finished eating, this is for you."
Gan Ruye appeared very happy. He took out his treasured jar of kiln wine, a small jar no larger than the size of his palm, removed the clay seal, and poured it into his cup to drink. Gan Ruye's tolerance for alcohol was not high; after a few cups, his face was already flushed.
"Elder, you have finally awakened," Lin Junxuan sighed in relief. "Let me help you to the corner of the wall, where we can find a sheltered spot from the wind."
"Child, are you referring to this pendant chain? Where did you obtain this pendant chain?" the old man asked, his tone showing no sign of fluctuation, much like a grandfather from the neighborhood.
"Elder, please hand me the pendant chain first," Lin Junxuan said. The elder was taken aback for a moment, then handed the pendant chain over again. Lin Junxuan did not explain anything, took the pendant chain, grasped the bowl, and walked out.
The sky had completely darkened, and the streets were quiet, with only the distant sound of low barking echoing from afar. Lin Junxuan relied on the memories in his mind as he made his way outside. The wind was strong, and as he walked into the city, Lin Junxuan faintly heard a burst of curses.
Moments later, a pendant chain shimmering with a soft glow appeared in the old man's hand. With the aid of the necklace's light, Lin Junxuan finally discerned the old man's features: a forehead full of wrinkles, murky eyes, pale strands of hair, and shriveled skin. This fortune-telling elder resembled any other old man of his age depicted in books, the only distinction being a layer of bluish hue on his face, which only appears on the faces of those nearing death.
"Child, there's no need. I am not dead yet. This necklace is your ancestral heirloom; you should keep it safe," the elder refused.
"Elder, the meal is ready; please enjoy it while it's hot." He set down the gray bowl and handed over the star-shaped pendant chain, placing it around the elder's neck. Lin Junxuan then offered a pair of chopsticks and quietly sat to the side, watching the elder eat.
"Child, thank you." The old man took the chopsticks handed to him by Lin Junxuan, appearing very moved: "This is the first time in my life that someone has handed me chopsticks and brought me food"
The lights in the study were still on when Lin Junxuan pushed the door open to enter, and Gan Ruye was still asleep, emitting a sound of deep slumber from her nose
I just heard the sound of scolding; at this moment, he should still be alive. The clothes on his body have been torn by the whip in several places, but these lashes should not have killed him. Hmm, he should still have a chance! Without the warmth provided by the star-shaped chain, Lin Junxuan's body began to grow cold, with gusts of cold wind pouring into his neck. Lin Junxuan could not afford to think about so much; this bit of cold was nothing compared to a human life.
"Teacher, I beg your pardon." Lin Junxuan apologized, placing the five live fish he was holding into a small gray bowl, and then set it on the charcoal fire to grill. After adding a few pieces of charcoal, the flames in the fire pit grew larger. With the increased heat, the fish would cook more quickly. Before long, a fragrant aroma of fish wafted through the academy. In his dreams, Gan Ruye seemed to catch a whiff of that fish aroma, his nose twitching a few times, yet he continued to sleep soundly.
Unknowingly, it is already close to the hour of Chen (around 9 PM). This is Lin Junxuan's first meal in this world. Although it is not very delicious, he eats with great enjoyment and satisfaction. The fire in the charcoal has long dimmed, and Gan Ruyue has collapsed beside him, her face flushed and a smile still on her lips, already asleep.
Not long after Lin Junxuan returned to the academy and lay down, a white figure appeared out of thin air in the woods outside the city, in the place where Lin Junxuan usually appeared. It was a handsome young man in white, who carried four long swords on his back. In the darkness, the long swords emitted a humming sound.
Lin Junxuan stared into the old man's eyes, which were remarkably calm. This peculiar pendant chain, capable of glowing in the dark while also warding off the cold, seemed to evoke no curiosity in the old man's gaze, as if this necklace were just like any other, lacking anything astonishing.
"This has been passed down from my ancestors," Lin Junxuan said. The pendant chain was inherited from his great-grandfather, and Lin Junxuan was not lying.
"Child, there is no need to strike anymore, I am already well." The voice of the elder finally emerged from the darkness
Teacher, the student has taken their leave! Lin Junxuan bowed respectfully and then turned around to exit the classroom
A withered palm reached out, but quickly withdrew. A sigh echoed in the darkness as the old man said helplessly: "Child, I appreciate your kindness. However, this fish is raw, and I am too old to bite into it"
"Elder, you must be hungry. Here is some fish; please eat first." Returning to the old man, Lin Junxuan squatted beside him, spreading the hem of his clothing to reveal the fish inside.
"Elder, could you return that pendant chain around your neck to me?" Lin Junxuan asked hesitantly. The star-shaped pendant chain can provide warmth, but the elder has already awakened; a moment of cold should still be bearable.
Old man, old man, wake up... Lin Junxuan crouched down and shook the fortune teller's body. The old man's face appeared pale with a hint of blue, his jaw clenched, and he remained completely still. Lin Junxuan touched the exposed face, which was icy cold.
"Elder, please wait here; I will be back shortly." After taking the necklace, Lin Junxuan put it around his neck, tucked it into his clothing, and then quickly ran towards the outskirts of the city
Lin Junxuan continuously rubbed the exposed hands, feet, face, and neck of the elderly man, hoping to warm him up through this method. After this vigorous rubbing, the elderly man's body gradually began to warm up. Lin Junxuan then pressed down firmly on the elderly man's chest. Being only four years old, he was not strong enough to harm the elderly man, so there was no need for concern.
On a cold night, a master and his young apprentice sat by the fire pit and began to converse. Lin Junxuan listened more and spoke less; for the most part, it was Gan Ruye who spoke alone, with Lin Junxuan occasionally interjecting a comment. Having had too much to drink, Gan Ruye had already forgotten that Lin Junxuan was only four years old. In his subconscious, he had come to regard Lin Junxuan as a proud disciple rather than a mere child.
The two individuals had for dinner pickled cabbage, marinated fermented black beans, a bit of chili sauce, and some congee. All these dishes were sent by the parents of the children taught by Gan Ruye, to offset the tuition fees. These marinated dishes were placed in small clay pots. Gan Ruye set these pots in the center of the study hall and lit a charcoal fire beside them, and the two began to eat heartily.
The wind howls outside, and it is still that corner where the old man leans against.
He took the roasted small fish out of the gray bowl and placed it into another, cooler bowl. Then, he retrieved some food that the students had given to Gan Ruye, heated it over the fire, and similarly placed it into a bowl. Lin Junxuan grabbed this bowl and rushed out of the room
"That is tears!" Lin Junxuan felt a stir in his heart, looking at the old man in astonishment through the darkness. It was just a bowl of rice; why would the old man shed tears? Could it be due to some sorrowful past?
He took out the sinker, immersed it in the water, and skillfully caught several small fish that floated up from the bottom. Lin Junxuan acted according to the law, catching five or six fish in succession, wrapped them in his clothing, and put the sinker back on before jogging over.