Immortality is above

Chapter 12 12: Demonic Confusion (Please collect and read)
  Dongzhaopo is located in a mountain depression east of Chenjiaji. It has many pine trees, mountains and streams, and beautiful scenery.

When he was a child, Chen Liubai came here to play, fish, and collect pine nuts.

Although I haven’t been here for many years, the route remains the same and I am familiar with it.

While walking through the streets outside the village, there were many farmers working in the fields. They saw Chen Liubai carrying a book and were very curious:
  "Who is this person? Why haven't I seen him before?"

"Hey, didn't you recognize him? He's Chen Liubai from Nishou Lane."

"It turns out it was him... But that's not right. Didn't it mean that he was deceived by wild Taoists, lost his future, and returned in despair? Why is he dressed like this?"

"The prodigal son will never change his fortune. He just wants to go back to school and continue to take the exams for merit."

"That's good. It should have been like this a long time ago... Hey, have you noticed that his appearance doesn't seem to have changed much. He looks like a young man. If I remember correctly, he should be in his late teens, over 20 years old."

"It really hasn't changed much, tsk tsk, he looks so handsome."

"Do you think he will really learn the magic of immortality?"

"Haha, it's a joke. If you learn the immortal method, you will be an enlightened immortal. Why come back? Besides, how can there be immortals in this world?"

Everyone laughed, adding a happy atmosphere to the heavy farm work.

"Aunt Eight, dig the floor."

"Uncle Six, are you trying to bury your wealth?"

Recognizing the familiar face, Chen Liubai smiled and said hello.

Everyone quickly put away their smiles and replied: "Chen Xiucai is good."

Someone else asked: "Where is Chen Xiucai going?"

"I heard that Wen Qing settled down in Dongzhaopo. I'll go see him."

"He's been acting a little weird lately. It's freezing cold in the middle of winter, but he still refuses to go home. Please go and try to persuade him, but don't get distracted by studying."

"Oh, is that so?"

Chen Liubai responded with his mouth, and his steps were not slow.

After walking out of Qianmo, we climbed over a grassy slope. After walking for a while, we found Dongzhaopo in front of us.

But I saw an old pine forest with curling branches and a mountain path in the forest. There was unmelted frost on the side of the road.

Following the path, I soon saw a thatched cottage sitting there.

It is said to be a thatched cottage, but it is actually an adobe house with a thatched roof and a small yard.

What scholars call living in a cottage, whether it is to study hard or to live in seclusion, the actual situation is by no means as calm and peaceful as it seems.

Just eating, drinking and having diarrhea is enough to give a person a headache.

What's more, living in the wild, where mosquitoes, rats, and ants are rampant, how can ordinary people live safely?
  Therefore, in situations like this, there are basically maids around.

Only when someone is waiting for you can you concentrate on your studies.

In Chen Liubai's memory, Chen Wenqing was born in a direct lineage of the clan. Growing up, his living conditions were good and he never had to worry about food, rice, oil and salt.

It is indeed not easy for such a young master to make up his mind to settle down outside.

It seems that he was anxious because he failed in the provincial examination.

At his age, failing three consecutive exams was equivalent to wasting ten years of his golden age.

Three years after another, how many three years are there in life?
  If you fail to pass the next exam, your career as a career will basically be cut off.

It can be said that this is a desperate move.

The door to the courtyard was ajar, so I pushed it open and looked around. It was quite simple and tidy. It was obvious that there was a dedicated person taking care of the house every day.

"I told you, I won't give up halfway. Don't be nagging here. Go home quickly and don't stay here to make any noise."

An angry scolding voice.

Soon a boy came out carrying a basket. He lowered his head and walked outside, only to see Chen Liubai and asked warily: "Who are you?" "My name is Chen Liubai, and I came here specially to visit your young master."

"Chen Liubai? This name sounds a bit familiar..."

Chen Liubai asked: "You brought the food here, but you didn't stay?"

The young man sighed: "Young master, I don't allow it. He said that I disturbed him while studying. This was not the case before. During this period, he was here alone, and the master was worried... Oops, I remembered that you are That Chen Liubai who has books but doesn’t read them and goes to cultivate immortality!”

Chen Liubai: "..."

It seems that his "fame" has really spread.

"Aqiu, you haven't left yet, why are you shouting outside?"

Amid the shouts and curses, a thin man walked out of the room, but his face was pale, and he was actually a bit more haggard than Chen Liubai.

At first glance, Chen Liubai almost didn't recognize him. He remembered that Chen Wenqing used to be a handsome young man who paid great attention to his personal image. Looking at it now, it looks unkempt, even sloppy.

Study hard and work so hard!

Chen Liubai took a step forward: "Brother Wen Qing, long time no see."

Both of them used to study in ethnic studies and were classmates for two years. Although they were several years apart in age, they got along well with each other. During this period, Chen Wenqing often lent books to Chen Liubai to read, and also gave each other many Four Treasures of the Study.

After all, Chen Liubai's family was in a relatively difficult situation at that time. He was able to study in a clan school mainly because of his talent and his ability to pass the exam.

Generally speaking, if their academic performance is not good, they will drop out of school early and go to herding cattle or sheep.

"You? Blank? You're back!"

Chen Wenqing was overjoyed and ran over quickly: "Where have you been all these years? You miss me so much."

For a while, Chen Liubai was not used to his enthusiasm. After many years in the mountains, he has developed a calm temperament.

Chen Wenqing grabbed his hand and turned to the boy Aqiu and called out: "Lubai comes to see me. Go and boil water for tea."

"okay."

Aqiu was overjoyed and saw the hope of staying and serving the young master.

Entering the thatched cottage, I saw that the interior was messy, with books everywhere and papers scattered on the floor, some crumpled into a ball, some torn...

Chen Wenqing said sheepishly: "I didn't know you were coming without any preparation. I'm sorry."

He quickly started cleaning up, cleared the place, and then asked Chen Liubai to sit down.

Chen Liubai looked at it and said with a smile: "Brother Wen Qing is really hardworking."

"Alas, I have failed the exam many times. The next exam may be my last chance. How dare I relax even a little bit?"

"Studying is a good thing, but everything should be done within a certain limit. Too much is never enough."

An unnatural look flashed across Chen Wenqing's face: "What Liu Bai said makes sense... By the way, what happened to you? You left without saying a word."

Chen Liubai said vaguely: "I feel ashamed to talk about this matter. It's hard to describe it in a word."

Chen Wenqing thought he had touched a sore spot, so he wisely stopped asking further questions.

Chen Liubai took the opportunity to get up, wander around, and came to the door of the room: "I heard that you are living in a family here, and you live here alone?"

Chen Wenqing replied: "I have been living here for almost half a year. I took Aqiu with me at first, but later I thought he was noisy, so I sent him back. All I need is three meals a day, delivered on time."

"Walking alone is indeed pure... Hey, what is this?"

Chen Liubai focused his eyes and found a strange thing placed in the corner of the room, which seemed out of place.

It was a broken statue of a god.

Green face and red beard, he looks like a judge...

(End of this chapter)