Drops of Sweat, Sincerely Nurturing Peaches and Plums! (Warm Welcome to the Second Dharma Protector: My Reward!!)

From afar, the entire mountainside seemed to be wrapped in a vast expanse of white.

Countless students and younger disciples, clad in white mourning clothes, knelt with their knees pressed firmly to the ground!

Their gazes were fixed on Su Chen as he emerged from the mourning hall.

For them, this funeral was no longer just about remembering their mentor.

It was also to thank this master for being able to perfectly perform "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" at Principal Tang's funeral!

This was the greatest respect and remembrance for Principal Tang!

At this moment, Everyone knelt on the ground, facing the mourning hall.

Under their watchful eyes, Su Chen slowly left the funeral site and began to walk down the mountain.

Seeing Su Chen leave, Li Hongzheng also snapped back to reality and quickly hurried in the direction Su Chen was heading!

Unlike Su Chen, who had come to see them off, the Li Family Band could not leave yet as the funeral procession had not yet departed.

Li Hongzheng chased after him persistently but was still a step too late.

Finally, at the foot of the mountain, he caught sight of Su Chen!

Li Hongzheng quickly shouted:

"Master, please wait!!"

Su Chen, having just finished performing "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix," was still steady in his breath and walked with swift strides.

Hearing the shouts from behind, he turned to see Li Hongzheng.

This suona craftsman from a small town possessed suona artistry that could rival that of national opera.

Su Chen turned to look at him, remaining silent.

"I am Li Hongzheng, a suona craftsman from Huayi Town. May I presume to ask, Master, who are you?"

Li Hongzheng asked this question, feeling a great deal of discomfort holding it in.

In reality, he was even more curious about Su Chen's lineage and whether he would have the chance to learn this "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix."

"I came to see Principal Tang off!"

Su Chen answered a question with a non-sequitur. Creating an air of mystery was, after all, part of the service.

His eyes were as calm as still water, and his demeanor was exceptionally refined.

Knowing that Su Chen was deliberately evading the question, Li Hongzheng's old face flushed, and sweat broke out on the suona he held.

After a moment of hesitation, he took a step back and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect!

He bowed slightly!

Finally, he asked the question he had been wanting to ask:

"Master, can I learn your 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix'?"

Direct!

Blunt!

And also sincere!

Su Chen looked at him with some surprise. This suona craftsman, who was decades older than him, was now respectfully seeking to learn from him!

The genuine look in his eyes moved even Su Chen.

As the saying goes, There are those who understand the Way earlier and those who understand it later; there are those who specialize in certain arts and those who do not.

The Way of the Master is neither noble nor lowly, neither old nor young; wherever the Way exists, there the Master exists!

Although Su Chen was born after him, in the art of suona, he was superior. Therefore, he would learn from him as a teacher!

Though they had met only briefly, it felt as if they understood each other deeply.

Su Chen had been present at the funeral the entire time and knew that Principal Tang's descendants had not been able to find a suona player.

This head of the Li Family Band had come voluntarily to see Principal Tang off. The appearance of an eight-stage funeral procession led by suonas demonstrated the respect he had for Principal Tang.

In the art of suona, he was so knowledgeable and respectful of the Way, not looking down on others due to their age.

"Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,"

This piece most severely tested the craftsman's dedication. Whether the deceased was worthy of it depended entirely on the scale within the suona craftsman's heart!

Looking at Li Hongzheng, who stood respectfully before him with a determined expression.

And remembering the ever-busy Principal Tang.

Su Chen did not hesitate. He transcribed the entire piece of "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" from the technique in his mind and handed it over to Li Hongzheng!

Once again, he spoke the first words of their meeting:

Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix is a mournful melody!

It is a tune left by our ancestors, only to be played for the deceased who were virtuous and highly respected!

The words echoed in his ears again, and tears instantly streamed from Li Hongzheng's eyes.

"To hear the Way in the morning and die in the evening!"

He didn't know if his heart felt joy at receiving the tune, or sorrow at remembering his blind master saying the same words years ago~

Watching Su Chen's receding back, his vision began to blur, seeming to overlap with the image of his master in memory.

At noon, Juan'er and her husband personally cooked a meal for the Li Family Band.

Throughout the meal, they busied themselves pouring tea and refilling drinks, afraid of neglecting the Li Family Band.

When it was time for the funeral procession, the eight members of the Li Family Band once again played the tune "Su Wu Herding Sheep" to bid farewell to Principal Tang.

Although Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix had set a high standard, the grandeur of the eight-stage funeral procession opening the way moved countless people.

Along the funeral route, the path was crowded with people.

Many from the town had come to see Principal Tang off!

Principal Tang was highly respected, and his deeds were well-known and revered in several surrounding townships.

Furthermore, because Su Chen had played Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix for Principal Tang that morning, many regretted not being able to make it to Principal Tang's mourning hall to witness the spectacle of Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix firsthand.

So, they all waited on this funeral road to send Principal Tang off.

The funeral procession, with over a thousand people, was grand and imposing~

A stick of chalk, two sleeves of clean wind, three feet of lecturing stage through seasons of sun and rain, every drop of sweat nourishes the peach and plum trees to bloom all over the world!

Principal Tang's grave was not large and was located in a somewhat remote area.

But this would not prevent people from Huayi Town, years or even decades later, from coming to pay respects to their ancestors, passing by this grave with their children and grandchildren.

They would then tell their descendants that a tune called Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix had once been played at this person's funeral.

At the same time, they would also tell the story of Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix and Principal Tang to their descendants.

By then, newcomers meet old graves.

Newcomers celebrate the New Year and bid farewell to the old year, while old graves receive earth during the Qingming Festival; newcomers become old people, and old graves also become older graves.

The people and stories of the old graves will be remembered for a hundred generations!

After the funeral procession concluded, the Li Family Band politely declined the invitation to stay for a meal.

They prepared to leave.

Juan'er, with her eyes red and swollen, accompanied Xiao Lin and Xiao Ai for ten li.

At the farewell, Juan'er took out the money previously raised by the townspeople for the eight-stage funeral procession, intending to give it to the Li Family Band.

The eight members of the Li Family Band refused to accept the money.

"If you truly want to express your gratitude, please donate this money to the school! That was Principal Tang's life's work!"

Li Hongzheng, his expression still solemn, unequivocally refused.

Gazing at the backs of the eight as they departed, Juan'er once again kowtowed three times in their direction!

Xiao Ai looked at Juan'er crying with a complex expression, unable to feel any sympathy.

The next day.

Principal Tang's funeral was over.

Juan'er and her husband left the school early in the morning, hurriedly taking their two children home.

Life at the school had to go on as usual.

Xiao Ai had been listless since yesterday.

"Principal Tang is gone, but we can't slack off!"

"Let's clean the office together! Just like before, I'll sweep, and you can wipe the tables!"

Looking at the dusty office, Xiao Lin suggested.

Xiao Ai nodded weakly and agreed.

Soon, While wiping Principal Tang's desk, Xiao Ai pulled open a drawer, and her expression immediately changed.

A somewhat crumpled ten thousand yuan bill, along with the money for the eight-stage funeral procession suona, lay quietly in the drawer.

Sunlight fell upon them, feeling somewhat warm.

On the other side, Su Chen returned to the company. After tidying his clothes and Principal Tang's documents, At this moment, the system's rating sound rang out.

P.S.:

Gratitude to the second protector for their generous reward!

Thanks for the 1666 reward from protector: Idiot!

Thanks for the 1666 reward from boss Thirteen!

Thanks for the 1666 reward from boss: De!

Thanks for the 1666 reward from boss: Meow!

Thanks to all other bosses for their book coin rewards, as well as recommendation tickets and monthly tickets!