Chapter 323: Chapter 272: The Peach Blossom Spring
Tao Wuliu arrived three days ago.
Having once shared a prison cell with the people of Forget Sorrow Village, Tao Wuliu was already considered half a member of their community. And upon realizing that Tao Wuliu, like them, wanted to retire to the mountains and eschew worldly matters, everyone was quite happy to invite him to stay—it was simply a matter of building another house, and for Forget Sorrow Village, which had Du Chengfeng and Li the Carpenter, this was incredibly easy.
If Tao Wuliu was willing to stay, the village’s academy would gain another teacher, which was beneficial for everyone.
For Tao Wuliu himself, it was even more of a good thing.
"What is this?"
Tao Wuliu, who was eating a large fish, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
Born in the south, he naturally ate a lot of fish, but he had never tasted such a delicious large fish before—the most important thing was, while large fish typically had tough flesh that didn’t absorb flavors easily, and were often riddled with fine bones, he had been eating for so long without encountering any bones.
Even though he was eating fish, Tao Wuliu vaguely felt a satisfaction akin to gnawing on a pork knuckle; the dining experience was simply unbelievable.
"Oh, this? This is something we raised ourselves in the village,"
Beside Tao Wuliu, a young man named Yang Gui smiled.
This occasion was their official exchange of names, and a reunion of two former prison mates, so to treat this friend who had traveled all the way from Longzhou, Yang Gui had gone to great lengths.
For example, the nearly two-foot-long fish on the plate was something one couldn’t find outside because such a thing originally didn’t exist—its origins were due to Du Chengfeng wanting to eat fish but being tired of picking bones, so after everyone agreed, the spirit of Ruan Shantao in the heavens assisted them in breeding this kind of fish with only a single backbone.
"Thanks to Master Ruan’s gift."
After silently expressing gratitude to Ruan Shantao, Yang Gui picked up his chopsticks as well.
The dishes on the table were things unattainable in the human realm, like the boneless fish, or exceedingly balanced fatty and lean beef and lamb, with tender meat that filled one’s mouth with flavor. Even the chicken drumstick placed on the table had just one bone, as if it were naturally made for easy consumption.
"This is simply..."
After several rounds of alcohol and five tastes of dishes, Tao Wuliu was pleasantly befuddled.
It had only been a few months, yet the changes in Forget Sorrow Village were astonishing?
Truly a celestial abode... truly a celestial abode!
"So, this time, you’ve come to settle down, right?"
After a feast, Yang Gui felt quite pleased.
"The house is ready for you. You just need to move in with your luggage. In a couple of days, when Mr. Du is available, I’ll introduce you..."
"Um, perhaps next time. I’m just visiting now, and there are some things I have to take care of."
Saying this, Tao Wuliu scratched his head awkwardly.
Originally, he wanted to settle down like that, especially after witnessing the wonders of Forget Sorrow Village—he longed to reside in such a carefree place—but he couldn’t. A mission awaited him, and he still had one last thing to do over in Longzhou before he could retire.
This last thing, of course, involved his cherished memorial, detailing everything about the Northwest and the suspicious rebellion in Dengzhou... Previously, he had sent messengers several times to the capital city in Jiankang, but none had returned. Tao Wuliu had initially thought it was due to the long distance causing delays. However, after waiting for months without news, he realized something must have gone wrong.
Either they were intercepted by steppe men or slain by some Evil Qi creatures, or more likely, they were killed by Dengzhou City, which had previously detained court officials without cause, almost openly rebelling. How could the messengers from Longzhou possibly have crossed through?
"So this time, I came personally to tie up some loose ends."
Tao Wuliu exhaled a breath of alcohol.
"I’m aware it’s a risky endeavor, but someone has to do something... Besides, this venture will repay the great kindness South Chen had shown me all these years. I’ve done all I can; the rest has nothing to do with me."
"Don’t speak so dismally. The fact that you’re willing to do it shows immense courage."
Yang Gui immediately raised his cup in respect.
Although as refugees, the people of Forget Sorrow Village felt little attachment to South Chen, they still admired Tao Wuliu’s sense of duty and righteousness displayed here.
Thus, after packing some dried goods for his journey, Yang Gui bid farewell to his old friend once again and wished him success.
Travel was naturally dangerous in those days, but Tao Wuliu was fairly lucky. He left Dengzhou without having his identity exposed. By the time he passed through Songzhou and reached Bozhou, he had truly returned to a place under South Chen’s control.
Logically, since he had arrived, he could just submit the memorial, and that would be the end of it.
But just as he was about to hand over the memorial, Tao Wuliu hesitated.
"Do I really want to submit all of it?"
In the postal relay station, Tao Wuliu fell into contemplation.
The memorial contained everything about the Northwest. To inform the ministers in the capital city in Jiankang about the situation there, he had written down everything he had seen and heard—including, naturally, the affairs of Forget Sorrow Village. He hadn’t hidden anything while writing.
However, was it really appropriate to report the matters of Forget Sorrow Village to the court?
Having personally lived in Forget Sorrow Village, Tao Wuliu understood the value of that celestial abode. Although it seemed peaceful and harmonious now, if outsiders found out... could that valley, a haven of worry-free serenity, truly remain undisturbed?
"... better let it be."
Sighing, Tao Wuliu ultimately pulled two sheets of paper from the stack of confidential letters.
They were just a group of secluded people, unrelated to the grand affairs of the world. Let them live quietly there, enjoying the rare peace in these troubled times.
Yet, despite removing them, Tao Wuliu, being a scholar, couldn’t bring himself to tear up those two drafts. After all, they were his writings, which might come in handy someday—just like how he had run out of funds and had no immediate way to earn money, he decided to revise and sell this description of Forget Sorrow Village.
"As long as I don’t mention Forget Sorrow Village, changing the name should suffice."
With this thought, Tao Wuliu wrote "Peach Blossom Spring" on another new piece of paper.
"Surely no one would recognize it then, right?"
Tao Wuliu marveled at his own cleverness.
At this moment, Tao Wuliu hadn’t yet realized just how popular his writings would become.
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