Chapter 553: Inviting the Gentleman into the Vat as a Self-Recommendation?

Chen Wuji and Chen Luozi followed the shepherd boy's pace, with over a thousand Bīngmǎ behind them, vast and mighty, obscuring the narrow yet extremely level village road of this tranquil countryside.

Among the villages Chen Wuji had seen, this one could be considered the cleanest and tidiest.

The whole village gives a very tranquil feeling.

As they passed in their vast and mighty procession, several people would come out in front of each household to watch the excitement—mostly women carrying baskets, elderly men and women with canes, and carefree children who were the happiest.

This scene made Chen Wuji suddenly doubt his earlier judgment.

He asked himself he shouldn't have misseen, yet the villagers' reaction showed no sign of any conspiracy; could it just be the shepherd boy's bad taste? Really just a simple cup of tea?

Chen Luozi twisted his neck and muttered lowly, 'I feel it getting stranger and stranger...'

'I feel the same,' Chen Wuji nodded.

Everything here somewhat challenges his judgment.

'Generals, we've arrived at my home!'

The shepherd boy leading the way stopped his steps, jumped down from the back of the gentle old ox, and pointed ahead at the house that was roughly comparable to Chen Wuji's former home.

This house in the village is quite ordinary, even dilapidated.

'Generals, my home is a bit run-down; please bear with it!' the shepherd boy laughed happily, showing no trace of inferiority despite his home's condition.

'Not bad, better than where I used to live.' Chen Wuji looked around and said, 'You have so many cattle; you shouldn't be living in such a house.'

While the two were speaking, Chen Li had already led his people into the courtyard first.

'General, these cattle aren't mine; I'm just herding them for someone else. Only that sheep is mine—it accompanies me while herding cattle by day and guards the home by night.' the shepherd boy said with a smile.

Regarding Chen Li's action, he showed no extra expression, as if he thought it quite normal.

'Can a sheep guard the home?' Chen Wuji asked.

The shepherd boy said firmly, 'Yes, my sheep is well-behaved. Usually it's very obedient, but if a wild cat, wild dog, or weasel intrudes, it's braver than a dog.'

Its two horns once broke a thief's ribs; if I hadn't noticed in time, perhaps the thief would have been killed by my sheep. That thief was blind as well—clearly my family is this poor, yet he still wanted to kill, just asking for trouble.

Chen Wuji listened, repeatedly marveling, 'That sheep is quite remarkable.'

Many villagers say the sheep has become a spirit, but it's not; all animals inherently possess spirituality—it's just whether we humans can sense and guide them.' the shepherd boy said.

Chen Li appeared at the doorway and nodded at Chen Wuji.

All is safe.

Only then did Chen Wuji step into the courtyard, meanwhile asking the shepherd boy, 'You mean you can sense the animals' spirituality?'

'You could say that,' the shepherd boy replied, 'Anyway, I get along well with my sheep, these two cattle, and the village dogs—much easier than getting along with those uncles and aunts in the village.'

Chen Wuji slightly nodded; such things really exist.

He had also seen similar people before and found it deeply astonishing.

Others' pets do whatever they're told—cats obey better than children, dogs can go out to buy cigarettes, while his pets either wreck the house everywhere or bark for no reason.

The shepherd boy's courtyard isn't large, only two rooms and a sheep pen erected in the yard.

It seems the shepherd boy truly cares for his sheep; the pen is built under a sunny tree, with a door and windows, and the inside is filled with dry grass.

The shepherd boy brought out tables and chairs, asked Chen Wuji and the others to sit first, then began slowly boiling water to make tea.

He acts and speaks with maturity, showing no impatience at all, more like a slow-witted old man.

Chen Luozi stared for a while, then turned his head and whispered, 'Wuji, you really shouldn't say that—I now truly believe your judgment; even if you said he's sixty, I'd believe it.'

'His age is surely correct; what I can't understand now is his purpose.' Chen Wuji said, 'What exactly is his aim in doing this?'

'Maybe he has no purpose at all, and we're just being paranoid.' Chen Luozi lowered his voice even more and whispered in Chen Wuji's ear.

'That's also possible!'

Although Chen Wuji said that, he still retained some wariness in his heart.

This person seems off in every way; if he truly had no purpose, it would still be hard to explain.

'How strange—this is actually a scholar!' Chen Wuji looked at the large vat under the eaves, his expression growing ever more peculiar.

'Suspicious point, add another.'

'I've also opened my eyes today—a shepherd boy who looks like a teenager actually owns an ink-washing vat; if he lacks genuine learning, he'd be unworthy of that vat of ink.' Chen Luozi muttered with a laugh, then shouted at the boy tending the fire, 'Youngster, are you the only one at home?'

'It's just me; my parents passed away long ago, and now I alone guard the ancestral home.' The shepherd boy replied truthfully.

Chen Luozi asked seemingly casually, 'I observe that the vat under your eaves is for washing ink, right?'

'General's keen eye—my father once studied with a teacher for several years, but unfortunately never managed to earn an official degree to secure a future of ennobling his wife and descendants; thus he placed his hopes on me. I was forced by my father to practice calligraphy from age three, and now I've made it a habit to write something every day.' The shepherd boy sat by the hearth like an old man reminiscing the past, speaking slowly.

Chen Wuji heard this, and his heart suddenly stirred.

The shepherd boy's manner of speaking began to change; he was no longer pretending to be a child.

'May I ask, what is your name, young man?' Chen Wuji inquired.

'General, your humble servant is Wang Ce.' The shepherd boy performed a proper bow.

Chen Wuji nodded, 'May I see what books you've read?'

'Of course, the room on the left is my study; please feel free to enter, General.' Wang Ce said.

Chen Wuji rose, and accompanied by Chen Li, entered the study.

The room was very tidy, consisting only of bookshelves, a desk, and a wide couch resembling a kang, with a mat laid on top, two futons placed, and side tables with oil lamps set.

'His collection is indeed rich—no wonder he undertook this adventure!' Chen Wuji shook his head and gave a light laugh; though it was a false alarm, meeting such an interesting person he found quite enjoyable.

Chen Li, hearing the voice, asked, 'Family Head, have you discerned his purpose?'

'This should be considered a scheme to lure the gentleman into the vat as a self-recommendation, huh? These little tricks really have a whole set.' Chen Wuji laughed, 'Too bad I prefer directness—I'll give this kid a real-life blow!'