The Old Man and the Green-Haired Turtle

"I didn't do anything, so I won't charge you," Xu Yan said first, dispelling the young man's worries. Then, he took out fifty copper coins from his pocket and placed them on the edge of the bed. "This isn't much, take it to buy something good for your mother to eat."

It wasn't that he was soft-hearted, but faced with a young man who wanted to take good care of his mother, he couldn't be heartless.

The young man was slightly stunned, then refused, "How can I accept this? Divine Doctor Xu, you not charging me is already a great kindness. How could I possibly take more of your money?"

He had nothing to repay Xu Yan with, so he didn't want to accept Xu Yan's money. His mother had taught him since he was young that no matter how poor one was, they had to earn money with their own hands.

"Are you even a man? Your mother needs you to take care of her, yet you're being so particular about these things," Xu Yan's tone was somewhat impatient. With that, he walked directly out of the house.

As a stranger, he had done all he could. What happened next depended on the young man's own fortune.

Plop!

Just as Xu Yan reached the doorway, he heard a sound from behind him. Turning around, he saw the young man kneeling before him.

He said, "What are you doing? I already told you, a man should not kneel so easily. Get up quickly."

The young man looked at Xu Yan with determined eyes and said very seriously, "Divine Doctor Xu's great kindness, Jiang Li will remember it in his heart. If Divine Doctor Xu ever needs my help, just say the word!"

For this kindness today, he, Jiang Li, would never forget it!

"I only gave you fifty copper coins, there's no need for this," Xu Yan said, slightly moved.

Then, he stepped out of the dilapidated hut.

Jiang Li watched Xu Yan's retreating figure until it disappeared before getting up and walking to the bedside. Looking at his mother lying on the bed, he said softly, "Mother, I met a benefactor today. I will definitely repay him."

After speaking, he carefully put away the copper coins and then went to buy food.

Xu Yan, who had left Jiang Li, walked on the street. He didn't immediately return to his small shop but headed towards the market.

The market was filled with various vendors selling goods. Daily necessities could all be found here.

"Master Xu, would you like to buy a chicken?"

"Divine Doctor Xu, thank you so much last time. These are wild crabs, take a few. No need to pay."

"..."

Lin Yan Sheng had a good reputation in the area, and many people knew him. Some people directly wanted to give him things, but he basically refused them all.

He walked all the way to the deepest part of the market, where an old man was selling turtles.

Xu Yan walked up to the old man and smiled, "Old sir, your green-haired turtle hasn't been sold yet."

This old man was peculiar. He wasn't a local from Tianren City but had come to Tianren City a month ago.

After arriving in Tianren City, he came to the deepest part of the market every day to sell turtles.

A palm-sized green-haired turtle was placed in a small transparent fish tank, with a few stones as decoration.

At this moment, the green-haired turtle was lying on a rock, basking in the sun. When Xu Yan spoke, it seemed to open its eyes and glance at Xu Yan before closing them again.

The old man was lying on a chair, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing Xu Yan's words, he opened his eyes and looked at Xu Yan. "You come here every few days, but you never buy anything. Otherwise, why would I have to come here every day?"

He only ever sold this one green-haired turtle, and Xu Yan had already been there seven or eight times, only ever chatting with him.

At first, he ignored Xu Yan, but after many times, he started responding to Xu Yan's words.

Xu Yan smiled and replied, "Old sir, you are asking for a hundred thousand copper coins for this one green-haired turtle. I couldn't afford it even if I sold everything I own."

The first time he saw this green-haired turtle, he found it quite interesting and asked the old man about the price.

The old man's reply was a hundred thousand copper coins, so he stopped mentioning buying the green-haired turtle and just came to look at it and chat with the old man.

The old man said indifferently, "Only those with the vision of a rat would find it expensive."

Even after a month with no one willing to buy his turtle, he had no intention of lowering the price.

Xu Yan knew this old man had a unique personality and didn't mind his words. He smiled and said, "Old sir, according to you, everyone in Tianren City is short-sighted."

A hundred thousand copper coins was a huge sum for most ordinary people. Even wealthy merchants would be reluctant to spend that much on a green-haired turtle.

The old man wasn't afraid of offending anyone and said leisurely, "That's how it is. Not just Tianren City, but everywhere I go, it's full of short-sighted people."

He would stay in a place for a while before moving to the next to sell his green-haired turtle, but he hadn't met anyone willing to buy it yet, so the people in those places were all short-sighted.

"Old sir, that statement is a bit too absolute," Xu Yan said with a smile, not agreeing.

Then, he shifted his gaze to the green-haired turtle basking in the sun in the fish tank. "This green-haired turtle seems to really like basking in the sun. I see it sunbathing every time I come here."

He felt this green-haired turtle was a bit different, but he couldn't quite pinpoint why. After all, he was just an ordinary person, and his perception was limited.

The old man didn't reply to Xu Yan and closed his eyes again, basking in the sun along with the green-haired turtle.

He didn't like talking to people much. If Xu Yan hadn't come often and initiated the conversation, he wouldn't have bothered with Xu Yan at all.

Xu Yan stared at the green-haired turtle for a moment and said, "Old sir, I'll come again tomorrow. I'll bring you a painting then."

He turned and left, walking out of the market. He had only come here to see the green-haired turtle and chat with the old man.

After Xu Yan left, both the old man and the green-haired turtle opened their eyes. They glanced at the departing Xu Yan before closing their eyes again.

The next day, Xu Yan came again.

This time, he brought a painting and walked directly into the depths of the market.

The old man and the green-haired turtle were still in their usual spot. Xu Yan opened the painting and presented it before him, saying with a smile, "Old sir, this painting is for you."

"I don't want the painting. These things are worthless to me and can't be exchanged for money," the old man said slowly at first, then opened his eyes.

Afterward, astonishment appeared in his eyes.

The old man's casual and lazy demeanor changed, and he said somewhat excitedly, "Did you really paint this yourself?"

In the painting, an old man lay on a chair with his eyes closed, resting, while the green-haired turtle basked in the sun in a fish tank on the ground.

What Xu Yan painted was the old man and the green-haired turtle.

He often came here and had already memorized the subtle details of the old man and the green-haired turtle, so he went back yesterday and painted this picture.

This painting could almost be called his masterpiece. The subtle details were rendered perfectly, presenting a beauty of tranquility and peace.

Even an amateur could tell that this painting was an unparalleled masterpiece.