New Life Beneath Full Ears

"I'm just an ordinary commoner. What birthday is there to celebrate?"

Old Li spoke with some embarrassment, shaking his head and waving his hands. "No, no! There's no point."

"There is!"

"Old Li." Yue Qiu looked utterly serious. "How could there be no point?"

"Right, we're all here. We'll celebrate with you."

Verdant Green Maiden nodded, looking at Old Li as she spoke slowly. "Don't feel embarrassed. It's only a birthday. Everyone has one, and if it should be celebrated, then celebrate it! You didn't celebrate before, so we'll make up for it now."

Old Li froze.

He looked at Yue Qiu and Verdant Green Maiden, then lowered his head.

Only after a long while did he let out a long sigh, his voice carrying the edge of tears.

"I... don't remember."

He did not remember?

Yue Qiu and Verdant Green Maiden frowned slightly, saying nothing.

Old Li sighed again and slowly said, "The last time I celebrated my birthday was over fifty years ago, I think?"

"My parents were still alive then. The Son of Heaven was still surnamed Li, and this place was still the Qi Kingdom."

A Son of Heaven surnamed Li was not necessarily a Son of Heaven of the Great Tang; he could also have been a Son of Heaven of the Later Tang. Verdant Green Maiden did the math. More than fifty years ago was precisely during the Later Tang era.

"After that..."

"My parents died."

"And I... never celebrated my birthday again."

"Ah!"

"Why think about such things!"

Old Li waved his hand. "I'm very happy that you thought to celebrate my birthday for me! Thanks."

"It's just that... I really have forgotten when my birthday is. Sorry."

"..."

Verdant Green Maiden said no more.

Yue Qiu also fell silent and finished the