NOVEL WEB Chapter 96 Old Friend
Wang Zhao took the Peaches of Immortality, and in just a couple of bites, he ate them up. He felt his entire body, all 36,700 pores, exuding a refreshing sensation. It was as if his body had been reborn, with all the defects caused by long-term heavy drinking wiped clean.
"I am grateful for your great kindness, sir," Wang Zhao said appreciatively as he knelt on the ground and kowtowed in thanks to Lu Yu. At this moment, he was like a new man, full of confidence in his future, finally able to change his own fate through hard work.
However, when he looked up, he found that Lu Yu had quietly departed sometime ago, just as quietly as he had arrived.
After that, Wang Zhao turned over a new leaf, abandoning his drinking and burying himself in his studies. He eventually embarked on an official career, and within a few short years, his name resounded far and wide. He later became a famous minister of Great Chu and was hailed as an example of a prodigal son's return—in all this is a story for another day.
Lu Yu had already quietly left Fengjing. He did not go to the Imperial Palace to see Lu Zhang, but came quietly and left just as quietly.
As he strolled leisurely through the fields, now at the cusp of early spring, the ice and snow were melting, and all things were coming back to life.
Farmers, whose livelihood depended on agriculture, were beginning to get busy, as the saying goes: "The day's plan is in the morning, and the year's plan is in the spring." No farmer would miss out on the springtime work; the weather was still somewhat cold, but the fields were already bustling with activity. Experience more content on empire
Lu Yu couldn't help but revel in this scene, the very picture of humanity he cherished. He'd had more than enough of scenes where "white bones lay exposed in the wild, with no cocks crowing for a thousand miles."
Only this world at this time could fill Lu Yu with a sense of warmth and beauty. He didn't use his mana, simply wandering leisurely along the small paths between the fields. The grasses, dormant all winter, were now quietly poking their heads out, and from afar, a veil of new green covered the earth.
"Hurry up, the Wu Family has started farming. Let's see what crops they're planting this year," a voice came from the fields, drawing everyone's attention.
The people in the fields put down their work and, as if by some unspoken agreement, followed the source of the voice toward the distance.
Curious about the scene unfolding before him, Lu Yu wondered just what was so special about this so-called Wu Family that they could draw such a crowd just to watch them farm.
He followed the crowd with interest and realized along the way that he had underestimated the Wu Family. The procession grew bigger and bigger, the number of people ever increasing. Everyone was chatting excitedly about recent events, their words brimming with desire for life. Time had healed the scars of war, and people were getting used to a peaceful life.
Lu Yu reflected on the wars of the past, which seemed as if they were right before his eyes, yet for the common folk, a dozen years was enough to change the world. This, perhaps, was the downside of being immortal; maybe it was precisely because of their short lives that humans could shine so brilliantly for a time.
"I wonder if Lady Wu will show up this year. I've seen her once, truly a beauty without parallel."
"I also don't know what luck that Boss Wu had to marry such a wife. If I could have such a beautiful and virtuous wife, I'd be happy to live twenty years less."
"I heard that Lady Wu was taken in by Boss Wu right from these fields. Who knows which noble family's young lady she is, falling into such circumstances and now to the advantage of that lout Wu."
"Humph! You youngsters should hold your tongues. Can Lady Wu be the subject of your gossip? Within a hundred miles, which one of us hasn't benefited from her great kindness? Yet here you are, shamelessly discussing the Great Lady," an elder scolded, which immediately silenced those who had been gossiping, daring not to utter another word.
Lu Yu followed the main troop and soon caught sight of a village. From a distance, the houses were scattered in an orderly fashion, and the road at the entrance of the village was extremely flat—it was clear that it had been meticulously maintained. Sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard, painting a perfect pastoral scene.
As they drew closer, he saw a burly man holding farming tools, heading towards the fields.
The man was tall and muscular, but his features were ordinary, with a square face often seen among the people. Only his not-so-large eyes were bright and full of spirit. He walked and chatted with the people around him, all the while wearing a smile.
"Wu Dalang, has your lady decided what you'll plant this year?" an elder inquired.
"My wife says it's a good year, anything will grow well," Wu Dalang replied with a laugh. His voice was deep and powerful, which somehow provided an inexplicable sense of reassurance.
"With Great Lady's words, our minds are at ease. Kids, hurry up and help Wu Dalang with the farming. We've been cared for by his family year after year. Don't lose your conscience."
The elder's words were the call to action for labor, and everyone busily set to work, all to repay the kindness of the Wu couple.
Lu Yu stood by the field, smiling as he watched everyone working with great enthusiasm. Of course, he knew that this year in Great Chu would be one of good weather for the crops, and these people would have a plentiful harvest no matter what they planted. Yet, he hadn't expected someone in this rural area to also possess this information; clearly, this Lady Wu was no ordinary woman.
"Thank you all for your hard work this year. I've already asked someone to prepare a meal, and I hope you'll do me the honor of coming by later!" A crisp voice called out—it belonged to a woman dressed as a commoner.
This woman was indeed beautiful and exuded an aura of purity despite her peasant attire. Although young in appearance, standing beside Wu Dalang she created an almost 'beauty and the beast' effect.
The people in the field cheered in unison. Who in the surrounding area didn't know that the Wu Family's meals were not only delicious and copious, but also rich with oil and flavor? Even though life had improved over the past few years, such meals were typically only enjoyed during the New Year celebrations.
"Sir, you might as well come to our house too, and please don't find our rustic food too humble." Wu Dalang had noticed Lu Yu earlier, since Lu Yu was dressed as a Scholar and carried an extraordinary demeanor, prompting him to extend the invitation.
The woman, too, turned her head to look at Lu Yu. Upon seeing him, she couldn't help but feel a shock. Her expression shifted subtly as she quietly said to her husband, "Hurry and help out. It's not right to just stand by and let others do the work."
Wu Dalang scratched his head and cheerfully agreed before rolling up his sleeves and getting back to work.
"The young lady has seen the gentleman," said the woman, performing a curtsey in Lu Yu's direction.
Lu Yu, however, spoke with a smile, "Who would have thought that you, the well-renowned Lady Wu, would turn out to be the White Lotus Holy Maiden who once stirred the whole world? And I certainly didn't expect you to recognize me."
Indeed, this woman was the White Lotus Holy Maiden who had vanished after the great battle in Zhongzhou. Since the establishment of Great Chu, the hunt for her had been relentless yet always ended in vain, as if she had disappeared from this world. Unexpectedly, she had chosen to live incognito, marrying a man like Wu Dalang to become his wife.