Chapter 260

Two hundred and seventy, Treated as a national scholar

Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Lingjiang didn't go up together, but stood in the shade of the tree under the platform to guard quietly.

It is worth noting that she was carrying an inconspicuous ink-colored wooden box on her back.

"Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan."

"Magistrate."

Li Su Dalang and Yan Yan Liulang climbed the steps together and approached the high platform.

Li Su Dalang called out softly, his tone quite embarrassed.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong, with a skirt knife slung across his waist, climbed up silently from the ground and handed the wine pot in his hand to the nearest old craftsman.

The other old craftsmen also held a few wine pots in their hands. The young county magistrate should have been drinking with these old craftsmen just now, not knowing what they were talking about.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong calmly sent away a group of fearful old craftsmen, clapped the dust off his hands, and turned to look at the two friends who had arrived.

He didn't ask much.

He sat back in his original place, patted the ground beside him, and nodded to them to signal.

Li Su Dalang and Yan Yan Liulang walked over and sat down one by one.

At the edge of the high platform, the river breeze blew sharply and rapidly like a knife. The three stood side by side, their clothes and hair fluttering in the wind.

On this Dragon-Slaying Platform, where no one knew how many lonely brave souls had been sacrificed by the Sui Emperor and the Liu clan for a hundred years, only three backs remained.

"No more wine. With you guys, I won't be polite."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong said with a smile.

Li Su Dalang couldn't help but say: "I feel like Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan has changed a lot since recovering from illness and coming down the mountain."

"Where has it changed?" He asked with a smile: "Got thinner?"

"That too, but more... in momentum." Li Su Dalang looked at him a few more times and said softly:

"The momentum before was sharp and peerless, moving forward, like a sharp sword.

"Now, it's like a sharp sword entering its sheath, hiding its edge, giving people a feeling that is deep and mysterious, making it harder for people to see through..."

"The teacher and the Junior Martial Sister said the same."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded, his reaction flat, and he lowered his head to busy himself with things at hand.

"Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan is..."

Li Su Dalang and Yan Yan Liulang looked over and found that there was a wooden bucket beside him, a towel on the edge of the bucket, and half a bucket of water left, shining brightly in the sun.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong had already rolled up his sleeves, went to pinch a wet towel, spread it out and folded it into a square, cushioned it with his palm, and lowered his head to carefully wipe a spot of floor beside him.

Li Su Dalang vaguely saw dried red marks on this floor.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly spoke:

"The old craftsmen said that at the beginning, his body was facing Butterfly Creek and the county town, but his separated head was facing them on the platform behind."

Li Su Dalang couldn't help but say: "About Brother Ashan's matter... Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, please accept my condolences."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head.

Under the noon sun, the wet towel dried quickly. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, pinched the towel in his hand to get some water, and lowered his head to wipe the floor carefully, his side face serious:

"It's not like that. Actually, I don't feel sad, but rather a bit happy."

He nodded:

"Because after recovering from illness and coming down the mountain, I suddenly figured out a principle. This principle might be a bit strange. Do you want to hear it? It might be quite nagging."

"Of course." Li Su Dalang sat upright: "I would like to hear the details."

"I have always felt that a person living in this world needs to establish a goal or a bit of hope, to rush, to break through.

"The former me was like this, fighting desperately forward.

"I once hated those who lived day by day and waited for death the most.

"But later I discovered that this principle is not suitable for everyone, and it also denies many innocent people.

"Because sometimes 'living' itself is already very difficult and very hard for many people, so how can one demand anything else?

"How is this different from 'Why don't they eat meat porridge?'

"Holding such a high requirement is just subconsciously making oneself appear noble and special, and from this, gaining a sense of superiority from others as a distorted motivation."

Speaking of this, Magistrate Ouyang Rong smiled.

"No, Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, you are being humble." Li Su Dalang shook his head vigorously and couldn't help but say:

"Actually, not just me, in the eyes of my father, mother, sister, and many, many people who know Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan is very special.

"You are always hard for people to guess your next move, and you radiate an aura of riding the wind and breaking the waves, as if nothing in this world can stump you."

Li Su Dalang's square face, which had a beard, gradually flushed red, his tone a bit excited:

"I believe the Chenjun Xie girl and the others have a similar feeling to me. Once they see Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, they feel that no matter how big the difficulty is, it can be overcome, and their confidence is restored.

"This is also one of the reasons why everyone believes in you.

"How can such a Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan not be special in this world?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong was stunned, looked at Li Su Dalang a few more times, and shook his head lightly:

"No need to mythologize me. I am not special. For example, Ashan, he is not worse than me."

He waved his hand and continued to say earnestly to Li Su Dalang, who wanted to speak but stopped:

"Experiencing Ashan's matter, I suddenly realized a principle, more universal.

"Everyone in this world actually lives with 'masks'.

"These masks are not bad things imposed on them; more accurately, they are identities that everyone is born with or acquired later.

"Identity masks are all kinds, everyone has them. The difference is that some people's masks are heavy, and some people's masks are light.

"But regardless of whether they are heavy or light, they are things that must be carried, and should be treated seriously.

"Just like Ashan, the identity mask he was born with is 'son', 'older brother', and also 'son of Longcheng', a member of this piece of hometown land under his feet."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong turned his head, his tanned, thin face showing a brilliant smile:

"I am not sad. Ashan clearly understood his identity.

"As an older brother, as a son, he stood out without hesitation that day to save his sister and mother.

"As a brave son of Longcheng, that day, facing the traitorous scum of this piece of land under his feet, he raised his unyielding head high.

"He scolded painfully, laughed freely, and he violently awakened the numb fellow countrymen under the platform.

"This is the heavy mask Ashan put on himself, his enthusiastic choice, so how can I cry like a woman afterwards and go to snatch and defile the glory that originally belonged to him?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong questioned, and also asked himself.

He sat on the ground, looking at the sky:

"No need to accept condolences, what is there to mourn?

"The only thing I feel a bit uncomfortable about is that he put on an extra mask, an identity mask that should have been borne by me..."

Li Su Dalang and Yan Yan Liulang were stunned. They saw the young county magistrate in front of them say this, and he took out a bronze mask from his sleeve.

With a "clatter," he threw it on the ground, stared at it, and said softly:

"At that time, for the sake of some ethereal distance, I temporarily took off this identity mask and also got rid of all other masks, going alone to find the so-called Pure Land.

"But this should have been... the responsibility I bore."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong paused for a moment, he suddenly turned his head, his voice ringing powerfully in the wind, word by word:

"The mask has weight, and identity is responsibility.

"Counting them, I, Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, also have masks and responsibilities.

"I am the only 'nephew' of Aunt Zhen,

"I am the 'Senior Martial Brother' of the Junior Martial Sister,

"I am the 'eldest disciple' of the teacher,

"I am the 'master' affectionately called by Ashan and Saving Aqing,

"I am the 'parental official' of the thousands of people in Longcheng,

"And I am even the 'upright gentleman' in the hearts of people all over the world!"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly bent down, picked up the bronze mask on the ground, put it into his sleeve, turned his head, and spoke calmly:

"This time recovering from illness, returning to the mountain, I will no longer evade these masks in the slightest.

"From now on, they are the identities that belong to me, and they are also my responsibilities."

Yan Yan Liulang listened and scratched his head. Li Su Dalang was silent for a while, his face stunned:

"What Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan said makes a lot of sense, deafening, but... Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan is so responsible, will it put too much pressure on yourself?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong smiled and waved his sleeves to point to the blue sky in the distance:

"Where does the pressure come from? This is indeed the Avici Hell in the mouths of people outside the world, but I am not going to be some saint or savior to completely level the hell.

"I am just counting the masks one by one and fulfilling the responsibilities of our generation. There are too many people in this world who have not seen their own masks and are derelict in their duties.

"If my existence can drive the people around me and make it slightly better, that is enough. Even if it can never be eradicated and I fall into hell forever, why not?

"Su Dalang, Six Lang, I used to think that 'I' alone couldn't do it, that one person's strength couldn't make a savior, but later, I saw Ashan stand out, and suddenly discovered, 'we' can."

"We?"

Yan Yan Liulang and Li Su Dalang couldn't help but mutter, chewing on the two words.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded vigorously: "Yes, we!"

On the high platform, it fell into silence for a time.

Li Su Dalang lowered his head and thought for a while, nodded heavily, immediately raised his head and said:

"Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, I also have my identity mask and my responsibility. Coming here today is because of responsibility."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong asked: "What?"

Li Su Dalang pushed the food box he was carrying forward gently:

"My family is waiting for you to go back in Meilu Garden.

"Although I know Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan is busy, I can't watch my father and mother worry so much, and I have to do something, so I came here with a thick skin today.

"I hope Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan won't blame me."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head and said: "It's fine, I understand."

Li Su Dalang clenched his fists on his knees, leaned forward, and said:

"Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, you should have known about my family's encounter and situation after the gift from the Shenjing Luoyang envoy last time.

"I was afraid of implicating you before, so I kept it hidden. I am truly sorry.

"To tell the truth, after witnessing Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan's strategy and actions in Longcheng, we were amazed and regarded Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan as a peerless national scholar.

"Listening to Mother, these past few days, Father hasn't been thinking about tea or food, and hasn't been able to sleep at night, thinking about Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan being able to help and give some pointers.

"My father truly wishes to treat Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan as a national scholar."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong didn't expect this straight ball from his friend. For a time, he lowered his eyes and remained silent.

"My sister and I have seen this in our eyes. As family, it's hard to stand by and watch.

"I won't hide it from Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, my sister has been urging me to talk about it, saying that because I am friends with Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, it's easy to talk about feelings, while she is good at clarifying interests and not good at this.

"But after listening to Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan's words just now, I suddenly felt that Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan has too many 'identity masks' and too much pressure, and I am afraid of adding more responsibilities and implicating Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, making my conscience uneasy.

"Such things are definitely not what friends do.

"But on one side is family, and on the other is a close friend, it's truly a dilemma."

Li Su Dalang didn't hide anything.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked sideways.

He looked at the exquisite food box handed over, and then at Li Su Dalang, who had an expectant and self-blaming expression, and suddenly asked:

"The name 'Su Fu' before was a fake name, right?"

After a pause, he said with a smile:

"Su Dalang still hasn't said what his full name is. We don't even know each other's names; this doesn't look like a close friendship."

Su Su Dalang hurriedly said:

"Almost forgot to say, my surname is Li, and my name is Li Fusu."

"Li Fusu?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head, "Bad name." But after a pause, he nodded again, and he sighed lightly: "Good name."

Li Li Fusu was confused and had a puzzled look.

"Your family is good at naming."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong muttered, his gaze returning to the food box in front of him.

"Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan can just call me Su Dalang."

"Hmm."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong opened the food box on his own. There was ice in the box. After opening the lid, cold mist rushed to his face, making him feel refreshed.

The food box had several layers. The top and bottom layers were full of ice cubes, and the middle three layers each had a plate of cool food to relieve the summer heat.

Li Li Fusu took the initiative to remove the top layer of ice and took out the first plate of food, introducing:

"This is the 'Sushan' made by my mother herself. It is a cold food unique to the palace. My sister and I have loved eating it since we were young. Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, try it."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and felt it was a bit like the ice cream from his previous life.

This ice food called "Sushan" seemed to be a dairy product called "Su" and honey poured over crushed ice, frozen into the shape of a small mountain, with a wonderful taste.

Right now in the Great Zhou Dynasty, only nobles could afford to enjoy it.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong picked up a silver spoon, tasted it, put down the spoon, picked up the Sushan, and handed it to Yan Yan Liulang:

"Six Lang, take it to the Junior Martial Sister, and you try it too."

"Yes, Magistrate."

Li Li Fusu had no objection and took out the second ice food.

Looking at it, it was a bowl of iced drink. Under the scorching summer sun, cold mist surged up from the bowl. Just looking at it made one feel cool and refreshing.

"This bowl of iced rice wine was brewed by my father and me together. It took many days. Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, try it. It's sweet and sticky, and it won't make you drunk."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows when he heard this. You all made it yourself, right?

The whole family went into battle to serve him alone, which was full of sincerity.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong was quite moved.

Then, his gaze couldn't help but fall on the last plate of ice food in the box.

"This was prepared by your sister."

"That's right."

Li Li Fusu nodded and took it out.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong took a look.

Emerald patterns, bright red flesh, dotted with black grains—isn't this a watermelon?

He thought for a while and asked: "Looking at this melon, did your sister grow it? Or did she cut it herself?"

Li Li Fusu covered his fist and coughed twice, saying sincerely:

"Ahem, it was picked by my sister herself. She said this melon is ripe. Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, try it."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's mouth twitched slightly.

What a "picked by herself."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong didn't doubt at all that the little girl with plum blossom makeup might have just bent over, raised two fingers, knocked on the melon, and then walked away gracefully with her hands behind her back, ordering the maid Sister Caishou to take it back and cut it.

Well, not bad, this is very Li Su Guoer.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong was speechless and amused.

Li Li Fusu was a bit nervous, looking at the side face of his friend who was burying his head in eating the melon.

Waiting for his friend's stance on a certain matter.

It's here, it's here, late but here, done as promised! Also, afraid of oversleeping, the update tonight might be a bit late, can't be exactly at twelve o'clock.

(End of chapter)