Chapter 543: Strolling Through the Ancient Xue Kingdom

At this moment, Xixi asked me, "Uncle, you've returned safely; how is the Da Heng Group now? Has it also come back?"

I shook my head and gave a bitter smile: "Xixi, Uncle. I now have nothing; the Da Heng Group no longer belongs to me."

"It's no longer yours—whose is it now?"

"This matter can't be explained in a sentence or two. Anyway, as long as I can live safely, that's already good enough."

"Having more wealth isn't necessarily a good thing."

"What I like most about you is your attitude toward wealth—you're not greedy,"

"Many young people nowadays have been tormented by money to the point of being a wreck." I sighed.

"Xixi chuckled,"

"Uncle, I see that the Da Heng Group is gone, and you feel more relaxed."

"It's not like before. When I helped you at the Da Heng Group, I saw your face—every day your brows were tightly furrowed."

"I also worried along with you; the worry kept me from sleeping. I lamented, with so much money, what's the point of life, living so exhaustedly."

"So, from then on, I felt that a person shouldn't be burdened by money for their whole life."

"I'm quite content now."

"I'm just afraid that if the school can't enroll any more students today, the next step is that our Xi Nan Lian Xiao might be withdrawn, and then it could be merged into a township."

"I really don't want to go to a township. As long as it's near the city, I don't like it."

"It seems you've been educated, Uncle. If the school merges and you're no longer a teacher, what are your plans?" I laughed.

"Uncle, I feel you're a mature man with your own ideas."

"I really admire you; when faced with any difficulty, you're never afraid, you can endure a lot of hardship yourself, and you don't tell others."

"Uncle, it's truly your education that shaped me."

"My next step? I have no plans; if the school merges, I'll go to Tibet for a stroll, knowing how vast China is, I want to properly look at shield." Xixi said.

"Thank you for the praise, Xixi; I'm just an ordinary person. When faced with things, I have no choice but to grit my teeth and face them."

"You go out for a stroll; I have no objection. If you need money, just let Uncle know, and Uncle will fully support you."

"I want to tell you something."

"Your father's village history is well written; he's unearthed a lot of history from the villages."

"From him I learned that the ancestor of cart-making is Xi Zhong, and he's actually from our Zaocheng. Moreover, there are many stories of the Ancient Xue Kingdom,"

"They all took place on this land."

"It's just that no one has excavated or promoted them."

"Your father is also getting older, and his energy is limited."

"Next, he will be promoted to Director of the Village History Office,"

"If you're interested, you can work at the Village History Office. First, you can help your father; second, you can dig into Zaocheng's history. I'm just making a suggestion."

"I looked at Xixi and said,"

"Uncle, let me think about it. If the Xi Nan Lian Xiao is withdrawn, I'll go to the Village History Office. Uncle, why are you interested in these things?" Xixi asked.

"Xixi, Uncle, I've been thinking about a new path, but I haven't yet considered it mature."

"I want to combine historical culture with village revitalization, but I haven't found a good breakthrough."

"As for me, at this age I can't stay idle—I must do something. You also mentioned the current state of the countryside."

"You know, this place is a plain, and the villages are like this; then Hulutao Village is a mountain village, Uncle's hometown—no need to say more."

"As for me, let's see if we can find a path of sustainable development."

"Earning money ourselves can also help everyone become prosperous."

"Uncle, I said you're a responsible person."

"What you said really excites me."

"Can my father's village history really help you?"

"I don't know either, but I think it should work, because for some matters I haven't thought them through fully."

"We still need to slowly and carefully ponder it. Xixi, if you heed Uncle's advice, then go work at the Village History Office."

"That also counts as indirectly helping Uncle." I said.

"All right, I'll think about it; as long as I can help Uncle, I'm willing to do it." Xixi laughed.

"I'll wait for your news; I'll handle the salary for this Village History Office. Once you go, it will definitely be higher than your teacher's salary."

"Uncle, the Ancient Xue Kingdom you mentioned is present-day Xue County."

"North of Xue Xian Cheng's city wall, there's still a section of Gucheng Qiang."

"It's said to have remained since the Spring and Autumn period, with over two thousand years of history." Xixi said.

"Indeed, the Ancient Xue Kingdom still leaves traces." I asked Xixi.

"Uncle, you've got nothing else this afternoon; I'll take you to have a look." Xixi said.

"All right, let's set off now." I said.

"Xixi and I left the school, got in the car, and headed toward Xue Xian Cheng."

"Xue County's county seat is relatively small,"

"with only one main thoroughfare and two streets."

"After leaving the main thoroughfare, we kept heading north."

"We passed two villages."

"Our car arrived at a high ridge."

"Xixi had me stop the car."

"We got out of the car,"

The high hill was covered with poplar and peach trees.

We walked up the high hill, and the vegetation was very lush.

Xixi walked ahead; she was young, after all, and her steps were very light.

Sometimes I couldn't keep up with her.

After climbing the high hill, I actually became a bit out of breath.

Xixi and I stood on the high hill, and we could see an earthen wall on it.

This earthen wall was obviously built with rammed earth.

I dug out a lump of earth with my hand, and only with great effort could I crush it.

This shows the earthen wall was rammed very solidly.

Xixi pointed at the wall and said: "The locals say this is the ancient city wall of the Ancient Xue Kingdom. It has over two thousand years of history. This wall was left by the last ruler of the Xue Kingdom, Lord Meng Changjun."

"How long is this earthen wall?" I asked.

"I don't know, and no one has measured it; from this high hill onward, walking forward, it's all earthen wall."

"Later, they dug a canal there and leveled that earthen ridge. I estimate only this much remains." Xixi pointed to the distance and said.

"Besides the earthen wall, is there anything else?" I asked again.

"This, I don't know much about; the local Cultural History Museum should know." Xixi said.

I nodded, looking at this section of the ancient city wall, feeling the changes of over two thousand years of history.

Over two thousand years have passed; this section of the ancient city wall has endured how many people and events, how much wind and rain,

it still stands firm.

The wind of two thousand years has blown over, and the dust on the earthen wall is filled with stories,

One generation struggled here, another generation perished here.

This is history.

I looked at this place, feeling sighs in my heart.

Sighing at my own insignificance.

In the long river of history, what are we? Just a few decades that pass in an instant.

Our lives are not as sturdy as this city wall.

Our fame is not as enduring as the wall's legacy.

But the wall remains silent.

It seems to have perceived all worldly affairs, for it has endured too much human joy and sorrow, parting and reunion.

I alone walked on the high hill, slowly smelling the scent of the earthen wall.

Familiar yet unfamiliar.

I smoked, gazing at the distant plain's land, imagining the stories that happened here over two thousand years ago,

The noise of people was loud, carriages and horses clamored.

This place was also a city,

but now everything is desolate.

I said to Xixi: "Xixi, when you have time, go to the Cultural History Museum here and help me learn about the deeds of the Ancient Xue Kingdom. I think it will be useful."

"Okay, uncle, I will go." Xixi said happily.