Chapter 003: The Monk in the Mountains

After changing several titles in succession, Ye Chang felt that none seemed suitable for the person before him. He claimed to be a monk, yet he sported a head of hair that resembled a bird's nest, with a fierce and menacing appearance that could easily intimidate a butcher

I am not some kind of master; I am merely a wandering monk. By the way, you ugly man, do you know where there is a temple

Did Shijuro even forget her?

He is very familiar with history. During the years he spent teaching in the mountainous areas, he nearly reviewed all the historical materials he could find, even delving into niche topics such as the history of technology. Therefore, upon careful consideration, one can understand the reasoning behind it. Although China has always advocated for meticulous farming, the true peak of agricultural technology occurred during the Song Dynasty, a time of rapid population growth. This area is situated on high slopes, making water diversion difficult, and the agricultural techniques of the Tang Dynasty had not yet been widely adopted.

And of course, Eleven Lang knew that the matter was far from simple

However, there are still many difficulties in diverting the water here to the ten acres of sloped fields at Ye Chang's home

"What are you running from?" Ye Chang had not yet reacted when the monster shouted, "Aren't you a mountain demon?"

Ye Chang stood alone in his field, kneading the clods of soil to confirm the moisture content. After shaking his head, he looked at Xiang Er's retreating figure as she slowly made her way back to the village. He wiped the sweat from his brow and turned his gaze towards the nearby mountain

Seeing Xiang'er looking noticeably thin, Ye Chang felt a tremor in the softest part of her heart

"You are not a mountain demon?" The person stared at Ye Chang and said, "I have never seen anyone as ugly as you!"

He repeatedly said that Ye Chang was an ugly man, which made Ye Chang somewhat curious. He had also looked at his own face in a bronze mirror; although the reflection was not very clear, he thought that his current appearance could at least be considered handsome. Could it be that this ugly monk was someone who could not distinguish between beauty and ugliness?

Your Excellency, Master

Hearing that it hadn't rained much for two months, Ye Chang's heart suddenly tightened. During the medieval period, survival was almost entirely dependent on the weather; if the heavens were unkind and natural disasters struck, man-made calamities would soon follow.

Xiang Er nodded slightly, and the bun on her head trembled gently. It was a typical San Ya bun, but since it was not secured with a hairpin, some strands of hair fell onto her forehead. The little girl broke off a small branch, stripped the leaves, and fashioned it into a wooden hairpin, which she then inserted into her hair. She turned back and smiled at Ye Chang.

First, go check the land at home

Xiang'er was all smiles; after all, she was just a young girl. Hearing that her young master intended to deal with the Liu family, who had always bullied her, she naturally felt delighted

That is natural; I heard that he just drove Aunt Si out. In the past, whenever Aunt Si came to his courtyard, he always obediently listened to her scolding.

The history that future generations see is largely the history interpreted by themselves

I remember that when I came with you, I noted down the entire route

I am ugly, but I know I am a human; however, I did not realize that there are others in this world who are as ugly as I am. The ugly man is indeed self-aware; he clasped his hands together and bowed slightly to Ye Chang, saying: "Amitabha, I offer my respects here."

The fields belonging to their family are somewhat distant from the village. On the way, Xiang'er mentioned that these fields do not actually belong to Ye Chang, but rather to the entire Ye clan, with this branch of the family merely cultivating them. Before leaving, Ye Chang's father, Ye Si, had leased the fields to the clansmen, and Ye Chang and Xiang'er relied on the rent from these ten acres for their livelihood

Praying for Rain

Mountain Demon

Seeing that it was still early, he made his way up the hillside, occasionally using the stick in his hand to probe the ground and check the moisture of the soil. The Wu Zepei Mountain is steep and picturesque, especially at this time, having not yet suffered the immense destruction of the An-Shi Rebellion, thus the vegetation is remarkably well-preserved. As far as the eye can see, it is all lush green, and beneath the shade of the greenery, there are many patches of grass and shrubs. The forest is filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers, completely devoid of the parched and dry scenes from the outside world, prompting one to exclaim: what a refreshing paradise for humanity.

"You are the mountain demon, your whole family is made up of mountain demons!" At this moment, Ye Chang also understood that the earlier shout of "mountain demon" had come from this person. This individual was simply extremely ugly, and his attire was also unlike that of ordinary people, which was why he had frightened him.

Since there is no way back, one must live life well. Since one must live life well, those who care for him must be cherished, and those he cares for must be well looked after

What if my lord forgets the way?" Hearing this, Xiang'er asked with concern

The third branch of the family is a relatively close relative of the Eleventh Master. However, this aunt, Liu, has always looked down on Ye Chang. With Ye Chang's father absent, she often comes to stir up trouble, seizing any opportunity to scold him for his mistakes and berating him for his faults. When she leaves, she also takes the opportunity to steal some items. Ye Chang had previously been gentle and timid, and having heard tales of the past, he knew that the immortal, the Medicine King Sun Simiao, once ascended to immortality after gathering herbs and refining elixirs on Liuzhen Mountain and Fufu Mountain by the Wu Ze Pond. Thus, he yearned for the path of immortality and, at a young age, began to learn how to gather herbs in the mountains. This led to his unfortunate fall from the mountain and being struck by a falling star.

Who is she

After finishing the meal, take me outside for a stroll, I can't remember things... Don't tell anyone else, just speak to me quietly when the time comes? After having a bowl of corn porridge, feeling a bit full, Jiu Yi Lang thought that he should prepare for the possible troubles that might arise

Moreover, there are several small ridges to cross, and without mechanized tools, relying solely on human strength, it is necessary to devise some effective methods

There must be water in the mountains; the lush greenery of this forest indicates that there may be a spring nearby. Ye Chang is no stranger to searching for water in the mountains. The mountain village where he taught had faced severe drought for two consecutive years, which was resolved by a professional water exploration team. At that time, Ye Chang took the opportunity to learn some experience from the professional team, which might be useful in this area that has only been dry for two months.

The key is to follow the contours of the mountains to find water sources

"My lord, where are we going?" Xiang raised her face and asked

Xiang Er answered drowsily, saying that it was already past noon and that after walking such a long distance, she truly felt both tired and weary. Seeing her like this, Ye Chang felt a bit reluctant in his heart, so he let her go back first while he still needed to wander around.

"There is no rule about having a meal at noon; it is still early. Dinner will not be served until after the hour of You." Xiang'er smiled, pursing her lips, and said, "Eleven Lang has truly forgotten; he can't even remember when to eat."

"Um, did you fetch the water from the bucket?" Ye Chang had no way to answer her question, so she had to divert the topic.

Will Shijuro also wash pots and dishes

Our family has ten acres of land, but it is now rented out to relatives. I have heard that this year's harvest is not very good. Speaking of this, Xiang'er also frowned and said, "I fear that in a few days, we will have to go gather wild vegetables, and we will only be able to eat wild vegetable porridge every day"

Indeed feeling hungry, Shijiro held the bowl, blowing on the steam rising from the corn porridge, while asking Xiang'er.

Xiang Er spoke somewhat ambiguously, and Ye Chang understood that she was still young and not very clear about these matters

The entire village lies beneath a vast forest, and when Ye Chang looks up, he can see the branches of the old locust tree looming over the village. This ancient locust tree is so enormous that it appears to have provided the village with a canopy—not the kind used for two-person camping or for some individuals to show off, but rather a large tent that could accommodate many people. Beneath the locust tree's canopy are the houses of each family, which include both blue brick tile houses and old wooden structures, with many more made of rammed earth.

Hearing him say this, Xiang'er thought of the unfinished cleaning at home and the numerous household chores that still needed to be done, and thus, in a daze, turned around and headed back.

This is perhaps the most common drought-resistant method, as Ye Chang lowered his head and looked at the lush mountains: "Is there any water in the mountains?"

He saw that the sun was shining outside, indicating it was lunchtime, but the amount of food cooked by Xiang Er was only enough to satisfy his own hunger

Xiang'er quickly tidied up the dishes and chopsticks, and Shiyi Lang suddenly remembered something: "Have you eaten? Why did you only cook for me?"

At this moment, Ye Chang recalled that during the medieval period, food shortages were common. For the wealthy, having three meals a day was a luxury, while ordinary families would only have breakfast when the sun was high in the sky and dinner at sunset, resulting in just these two meals a day

Ye Chang found the fourth location that might have water. He dug down half a foot with a branch and saw a trickle of water seeping out. He covered the soil back up and looked back at his own land, which was more than two miles away from here. Given such a long distance and the need to traverse mountains and hills, it was impossible for him to bring the water over by his own strength.

It is amusing that, since my father is not around, when will it be her turn to handle the matters of our household... If she comes again in the future, she will be dismissed immediately. "Shijiro is completely unconcerned.

Holding her face and smiling at Eleventh Master, Xiang'er retracted her smile, and a clear expression of disgust appeared on her face: "That is the eldest branch of our third house; you should address her as 'Aunt'..."

Oh?

Xiang Er's ears were sharp; a casual remark from Ye Chang was overheard by her, prompting her to ask curiously.

In such a place, it is impossible to be unable to find a water source. Logically speaking, even if the government does not intervene, the local gentry and elders should take the initiative to procure water.

This matter concerns his life—along with Xiang'er’s. He has died once before and has now made a firm resolution to cherish and protect what he currently possesses

At this time, it is the Tang Dynasty, which corresponds to the medieval period of Huaxia. During this era, clan power was extremely strong. He was referred to as "Shiyi Lang" because he ranked eleventh among his peers in the clan

Xiang'er looked at him for quite a while, seemingly hesitant to speak. Only after the Eleventh Young Master urged her did she manage to say a few words.

He, however, is unaware that after mingling in the mountains and fields for such a long time, he is now dirty, and as a result, he appears unattractive.

The residential buildings were scattered in a chaotic manner, causing him to take numerous turns and expend great effort without reaching his destination. Occasionally, people pointed and commented on him, and some approached to greet him, asking if he had truly been struck by a falling star. In response to this question, Ye Chang neither affirmed nor denied it; he simply smiled faintly and bid farewell, remaining unfazed even when the other party was clearly mocking him.

What is a detergent

There is a temple over there, and just now I heard the sound of the temple bell

"When it comes to being ugly, who can compare to you?" Ye Chang, seeing his somewhat foolish expression, asked with a smile, "Haven't you looked in the mirror?"

A shout rang out, and Ye Chang turned and ran, while the green-faced man also shouted and took off. This was not flat ground, but a steep mountain, with almost no path. As they fled, they both stumbled and fell, sliding down the slope and crashing into a heap.

How much land do we have at home, and what is this year's harvest like

Whispers occasionally reached his ears, but Ye Chang simply pretended not to hear. After a considerable time, they finally arrived at the old locust tree, which marked the entrance to Wu Zepu's village

In the feudal era, clan power was exceedingly strong, to the extent that they could enforce laws in rural areas and execute clan members who committed acts deemed "dishonorable to the family name," such as adultery and theft. As for disrespecting elders, the lighter punishment involved being brought to the ancestral hall for disciplinary action according to clan rules, while the more severe consequence could result in expulsion from the clan

As the two individuals stepped out of the door, Ye Chang finally had the opportunity to truly see the village where he lived. Although it was referred to as "Wuzepei," in reality, it was a settlement of approximately two hundred households. Ye Chang had visited so-called "ancient towns" in the future, such as Wuzhen, and now, witnessing a living "ancient town" with his own eyes, the stark differences left him in awe.

Oh? Even Aunt Si dares to be driven away, this is quite unusual. Aunt Si, that fiery character, is not to be trifled with

Why is no one fetching water

There is hardly any water in the mountains, and even if there were, it cannot be diverted here

In the distance, the sound of a bell rang out, signaling that the temple on the mountain had begun its afternoon session. Ye Chang estimated the time to be around four-thirty in the afternoon. He decided to search for a possible water source with *Tu* *Shu* before heading back. However, at that moment, he heard a faint rustling sound among the trees. Initially, he thought it was a wild animal or bird, but as he turned around a rock, he was confronted by a green-faced figure with a fierce expression.

"This is what I fetched from the pond, Shijiro. You should use it sparingly; the water in the pond has been scarce lately. I have heard that the clan elder is planning to request rain. It has already been two months since it last rained this year."

Indeed, what you say is correct!

"Great, we can finally break the fast!" The monk, upon hearing this, joyfully said, "Ugly man, come with me. I have a bowl of vegetarian rice, and you certainly won't be left out of it!"

My own daughter, however, is much more plump than Xiang'er. When she accompanies me to the market, leaning on my arm, I can feel her weight.

Although the fierce and menacing monk looked intimidating, he was warm-hearted. Ye contemplated that there must be a way down the mountain outside the temple, which was far better than retracing his steps. Thus, he followed the monk towards the temple.

After walking for a full half of an hour, equivalent to one hour in later times, Ye Chang finally saw his family's ten acres of land. This ten acres was situated on a gentle slope at the foot of Fufu Mountain, and the soil had already cracked. The crops planted there were unfamiliar to Ye Chang, but from their withered state, it could be inferred that without rain, they would perish. Ye Chang furrowed his brow; there were two to three hundred acres of land in the vicinity, which must be the source of livelihood for many families in the village. It seemed that the troubles were not limited to just his household, but why had he not seen any farmers coming to draw water for irrigation?

Without the protection of one's clan, in the countryside, one becomes vulnerable to the whims of others, and any kind of destitute family dares to come and trample upon you

However, he did not say anything; he simply went over and took the bowl from Xiang'er’s hands: "Let me wash it."

Not long ago, some people still held hope, but in the past ten days, everyone has become disheartened. Xiang'er said: "Everyone is discussing pooling resources to invite the abbot of Fushan Xuanguan to come down and perform a ritual to pray for rain."

However, the clan elder did not organize the people to come together, even to carry some water for irrigation, which surprised Ye Chang somewhat

Ye Chang has a very calm understanding of his presence in this era: he cannot go back.

After being struck by this comet, Shiyilang has indeed changed; just look at his current appearance, tsk tsk... It feels as though he is no longer the same Shiyilang who was solely focused on alchemy and becoming an immortal.

What is so difficult about this ... where is the water, where is the scoop, where is the cloth ... the detergent ... ah, let's not ask about that.