What the Scholar Saw and Heard in Blue Silver Village

When the scholar saw the old man leave, he hurried after him. The dazzling array of goods lining both sides of the street left his eyes spinning.

"Young man! Where are you from?"

"Old Uncle! I was traveling and studying away from home when I happened to hear about this place.

"I came out of curiosity, but I never expected it to be even better than I imagined."

"You've come to the right place. I guarantee your trip won't be in vain!"

The old man and the scholar walked and talked as they took a general look around Blue Silver Village, leaving the scholar wanting to learn more about it.

It was getting late, and they were both a little tired. Since this was the scholar's first visit, the old man wanted to invite him home as a guest.

"Young man! You don't have a place to stay yet, do you? I suppose our meeting was fated.

"Why don't you rest at my home tonight? What do you say?"

"How could I impose on you again, Old Uncle?"

"Ah! It's no imposition. I'm more worried that you'll think this old man hasn't been a good enough host!"

"I wouldn't dare! Since you've put it that way, Old Uncle, I'll impose on you."

"That's more like it! A man should be open and straightforward. How can he accomplish great things if he fusses like an old woman?"

And so the scholar followed the kindhearted old uncle home.

"Old Uncle! This is where you live? You couldn't be the village chief or a clan elder of Blue Silver Village, could you?"

"Haha! I'm ashamed to say I'm neither the village chief nor a clan elder. I'm just an ordinary hunter. Surprised?"

"I am a little surprised."

The scholar was somewhat taken aback to hear that the old man wasn't an important figure in the village.

After all, the residence before him wasn't one an ordinary villager could afford. Without a fair amount of money, it would have been difficult to build a home like this. A hunter alone couldn't possibly have done it.

"Don't be surprised. This old man didn't have spare money to build such a fine house.

"This was all thanks to the young master of the Zhang family, who showed special consideration to an old fellow like me.

"That's how I came to live in a big house I otherwise could never have lived in my whole life."

"Could this young master of the Zhang family be the one who created Blue Silver Village?"

"That's right! Everyone here can live so happily and comfortably because of him."

After the two entered the residence, the old man hurried off to find his wife and asked her to prepare something to eat.

After all, this was the first time they'd had a guest at home, and they couldn't neglect him.

When it was time for dinner that evening, the old man even brought out some fine wine he had treasured, intending to share a good drink with the scholar.

"Young man! You're in for a treat today. This is fine wine I've treasured for years.

"I've never had the heart to drink it, but today the two of us will share a cup."

"Wonderful!"

The scholar loved wine too. As soon as he heard there was fine wine, his eyes lit up, and he could hardly wait to see what kind it was.

As the old man unsealed the wine jar, a rich fragrance immediately wafted out. The scholar caught its scent and began swallowing his saliva.

"It smells wonderful!"

"Come! I'll pour you a cup."

"Thank you, Old Uncle!"

"Quick, have a taste!"

"Gulp! Fine wine! Mellow and sweet, with a spicy bite. It warms the stomach as it goes down."

"Haha! The young master of the Zhang family gave it to me. It isn't sold to outsiders."

"Oh, is that so? Then I'd better have a few more cups, or I might never get to drink it again."

"Good! Come, drink! We won't stop until we're drunk!"

The old man and the young scholar began drinking, each toasting the other in turn, and the atmosphere was quite cheerful.

The next day, a young man slowly opened his eyes in his room, still looking a little dazed.

"I drank so much wine yesterday, yet I don't have the slightest headache. It really was a fine wine of the highest quality!

"Still, it's been a long time since I drank as freely as I did yesterday."

While the scholar was still savoring the memory, the old man's voice suddenly sounded outside the door.

"Young man! Are you up? I'll take you to the street for breakfast."

The scholar didn't dare delay. He hurriedly got dressed, then opened the door.

"Good morning, Old Uncle!"

"Young man! Did you sleep well last night?"

"I haven't slept so soundly in a long time!"

"That's good. Come on! I'll take you to sample the food in Blue Silver Village."

"Old Uncle! Isn't it a little too early to eat?"

"Hehe! You don't know, young man. We're used to eating three meals a day here. We have breakfast in the morning,

"lunch at midday, and dinner in the evening. So there's no need to wonder. You'll see when we get there."

After hearing the old man's explanation, the scholar said no more. He simply followed the old man toward the street.

When they reached the place where they were to eat breakfast, the scholar was surprised by the lively scene.

He hadn't expected so many people to be eating breakfast. Judging by the busy workers at the stalls, they seemed to have been at it for some time already.

"Young man! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and sit down! There won't be any seats left in a moment."

Hearing the old man call him, the scholar found an empty seat and sat down. Then he heard the old man shout:

"Server! Two bowls of shredded pork noodles, a steamer of soup dumplings, and two bowls of tofu pudding. Hurry!"

"Coming right up! Please wait a moment, Old Master Chen!"

In less than a moment, everything was served, and a wave of fragrance rushed toward them.

"Young man! Come on, eat while it's hot. You won't find these things anywhere else."

The scholar looked at the table full of food. He really hadn't seen it anywhere else, and the sight alone whetted his appetite.

So he didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up a bowl and took a bite of noodles, and that was that.

He had no time to think about anything else. All he wanted now was to tackle the delicious food.

After seeing the wonders of this place, the scholar grew so happy there that he forgot all about home. Every day, he wandered around the village, asking curious questions about whatever he saw.

One day, he was strolling along the street as usual when he suddenly saw a crowd gathered up ahead. He didn't know what they were doing, so he went over to take a look.

"Blue Silver Village is recruiting teachers for its school! Anyone who gets the position can become a teacher at the Blue Silver Village school. The pay is five hundred wen a month."

"That much! What a shame I don't know many characters, or I'd give it a try too."

"You? Give me a break. You can't even write your own name properly, and you want to be a teacher?"

"Zhang San! Are you asking for a beating?"

"What? Want to fight? Take a look at where we are. If the defense team catches you, you'll be detained and fined."

The scholar paid no attention to their quarrel. When he heard that Blue Silver Village was recruiting teachers, he had some thoughts of his own.

After all, it took money to live here, and he couldn't keep eating and drinking at Old Uncle Chen's home for free!

"Lan Xin! How is the teacher recruitment going? Has anyone come to apply?"

"Master! Quite a few people have applied, but they've only spent a few years at private schools and learned some characters.

"Still, one of them has some talent. Would you like to meet him, Master?"

"Oh, there really is a capable person willing to come here and be a teacher? Then I must meet him."

Hearing that Zhang Sheng was interested in the man, Lan Xin immediately went to make arrangements.