Chapter 580: Sent Someone to Invite

The fifteenth year of Zhou Jing Wang (former).

530 BCE.

Li Er lived in Qu Ren Li for several years.

The days of those years passed slowly and quietly.

Every morning he woke up, did some chores for Li Shi, then sat in the courtyard to read.

At noon he had a meal, and in the afternoon he continued reading.

In the evening he would sometimes go for a walk in the village and chat a few words with the elderly who still recognized him.

After dark, he would read a while longer by lamplight, then go to sleep.

Day after day, month after month.

He had long known by heart the classics piled up like mountains in Cheng Zhou Shou Cang Shi.

What he reads now are the insights of these years, some casual notes jotted down, and some vague ideas beginning to form.

He does not know how much longer he will need to think, nor whether he can figure it out.

But he is not in a hurry.

In spring, the tree by the gate blossomed.

In summer, the cicadas chirped from morning till night.

In autumn, the rice in the fields turned yellow.

In winter, it occasionally snowed, blanketing the whole village in white.

He lived like that.

Until this day.

The gate was knocked on.

Li Er did not look up.

He was sitting in the courtyard, holding a scroll of bamboo slips, engrossed in reading.

Sunlight poured down from above, shining on his hair, giving it a faint glow.

The knocking sounded again twice.

Then the gate was pushed open.

A middle-aged man in official robes entered, followed by two attendants.

That man walked up to Li Er, stopped, and bowed.

"May I ask, are you Mr. Li Er?"

Li Er lifted his head and glanced at him.

"It's me."

The man's face lit up with joy, and he quickly said:

"I, acting on Duke Ganping's order, have come specially to invite you back to Cheng Zhou to continue serving as Archivist of the Archive Room."

Li Er said nothing.

He simply lowered his head and continued looking at the bamboo slips in his hand.

The envoy was stunned, standing there, unable to advance or retreat.

The two attendants behind him glanced at each other, too afraid to speak.

The courtyard fell silent.

Only the occasional rustle of bamboo slips and a few bird calls from afar could be heard.

The envoy stood motionless in place.

He dared not urge him.

Before coming, Duke Ganping had specifically instructed: this gentleman has an eccentric temperament, cannot be forced, only respectfully invited; if the invitation succeeds, proceed; if not, let it be; under no circumstances must he be offended.

So he could only wait.

The sun slowly moved, and the shadow gradually lengthened.

Li Er never lifted his head.

He just sat there, turning page by page of the bamboo scroll, his expression focused, as if the three people standing before him did not exist at all.

Fine beads of sweat began to appear on the envoy's forehead.

Not from fatigue, but from nervousness.

He did not know what this gentleman actually meant.

Should he agree or refuse? Should he let him keep waiting or tell him to leave? He knew nothing.

But he dared not ask.

He could only continue waiting.

The sun gradually slanted westward, and dusk closed in from all sides.

Li Er finally finished the last page.

He closed the bamboo slips, lifted his head, and glanced at the sky.

The setting sun was just right, dyeing the whole courtyard orange-red.

He stood up and looked at the envoy who had stood there the whole afternoon.

"We will depart tomorrow."

The envoy was stunned, then overjoyed, repeatedly bowing.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

Li Er waved his hand.

The envoy understood, performed another salute, and withdrew with his two attendants.

The courtyard gate closed gently.

The footsteps faded away gradually.

…

Li Er stood where he was, looking at the closed door, silent for a moment.

Footsteps came from behind him.

"What are you going to do this time?"

Li Er turned his head.

Yu Lin walked in from outside the courtyard, the green ox following behind him, looking utterly devoid of joy.

Li Er glanced at him, then looked at the green ox.

The green ox met his gaze, a flash of grievance crossing its eyes, as if it were complaining.

Li Er paid it no heed.

"I have some ideas in mind," he said, "and I want to put them to the test."

Yu Lin nodded.

"All right. Go on." He walked up to Li Er, patted his shoulder, and said, "I'll take good care of your mother."

Li Er fell silent.

He looked at Yu Lin, his face written plainly with the words "I'm serious."

But Li Er knew him too well.

After all these years, if he really had any ideas, he wouldn't have gone untouched until now.

The greatest favor he ever got was merely that year when Li Er voluntarily called him "father."

Li Er sighed helplessly.

"Then thank you."

"You're welcome."

Yu Lin turned around and patted the green ox's head.

"I'll return the ox to you; I won't ride it anymore."

Hearing that, the green ox's eyes lit up instantly.

It let out a long sigh of relief, its whole bovine face filled with the joy of having survived a calamity.

These past few years, Yu Lin would occasionally ride it all over the place.

A single run would last several hours, crossing mountains and ridges, threading through forests and rivers, using the ox as a carriage, without a hint of reluctance!

The ox doesn't need rest, does it?!

It was about to break into a happy smile—

"I'll borrow it again to ride when I come to see you another day."

The green ox's smile froze on its face.

It turned its head, looking at Yu Lin, its dark eyes full of accusation.

"Moo~~"

That call was drawn out, carrying a hint of resentment and a hint of grievance.

Yu Lin lowered his head to look at it and grinned.

"Do you have any objections?"

"Moo-moo."

The green ox lowered its head, scraped the ground with its hooves, and its voice grew much softer.

"Then that's fine."

Yu Lin patted its buttocks, "See you another day."

He turned and walked toward his own room.

The green ox stood where it was, watching his back, its eyes full of utter joylessness.

Li Er walked over and gently stroked its head.

"You've worked hard; actually, being ridden by him once isn't a big deal."

The green ox lifted its head, looking at him, as if tears glimmered in its eye sockets.

Li Er smiled slightly and said nothing.

The next day.

At the first light of dawn, Li Er got out of bed.

Li Shi was already busy at the stove.

Cooking smoke curled upward, the aroma of food filling the whole courtyard.

Li Er sat at the doorway, watching that busy back, saying nothing.

Li Shi came over holding a bowl of hot porridge and set it before him.

"Eat."

Li Er lifted the bowl and drank slowly.

Li Shi sat beside him, watching him.

"Leaving again?"

Li Er nodded.

"Mm."

Li Shi did not ask where he was going, how long he would be away, or when he would come back.

She merely nodded.

"Be careful on the road."

Li Er finished the last mouthful of porridge, set down the bowl, and stood up.

Li Shi also stood up, straightened his collar, and patted the nonexistent dust on his shoulder.

Li Er looked at her, suddenly opened his arms, and gently embraced her.

Li Shi froze for a moment, then laughed.

She patted his back, just as she used to soothe him to sleep when he was a child.

"Go."

Li Er released his hold, stepped back, and looked at her.

"Mother, I'm leaving."

Li Shi nodded.

Li Er turned and walked toward the outside of the courtyard.

The green ox was already waiting at the gate.

Seeing Li Er come out, it lowered its head, lay down, and let him mount.

Li Er swung up onto the ox's back.

He turned his head for a last look at Li Shi standing at the gate, at the two wooden houses, and at the trees in the courtyard.

Then he withdrew his gaze and gently patted the ox's head.

"Let's go."

The ox rose to its feet, took strides, and headed out of the village.

Morning light fell on him, stretching his shadow long.

At the village entrance, a few early-rising villagers were chatting idly.

Seeing him, they all greeted him.

"Bo Yang, off on another long journey?"

"Be careful on the road!"

"Remember to come back!"

Li Er waved at them.

The ox carried him, going farther and farther.

Behind him, cooking smoke rose in thin wisps.

Qu Ren Li gradually grew smaller, grew fainter, and finally vanished at the horizon.