After eating wontons and taking a walk in the city to eat, Luo Guan met two old men playing chess under a willow tree by the river.
One is wearing black clothes, and the other is wearing a white robe. The old man in black has sparse hair and a dry body, and is dirty and slovenly. The old man in white robe is fresh all over. Judging from the quality of his clothes and accessories, he looks wealthy.
It was obvious that the two parties were not the same kind of people, but they got together to play chess. The old man in white robe made sarcastic remarks from time to time, while the old man in black robe scolded him when he was anxious. He had no worries at all, and it was obvious that they had a close relationship.
Luo Guan thought for a moment and stepped forward, "Two old men, we like to play chess. I wonder if I can watch?"
The old man in black didn't even raise his head, he just waved his hand to let him do as he pleased.
The old man in white robe said: "Yes, but the rule of watching the chess without saying a word must be remembered by future generations, so that no one will cheat after losing."
"Fart! I'm cheating? Stop talking nonsense!" The old man in black was furious, picked up a chess piece, and dropped it on the chessboard with a "pop" sound, "It's your turn!"
The old man in white robe sneered, "You lame man, have you made any progress? I have to think carefully about this move."
The old man in black grabbed the water hyacinth, drank a few sips, and wiped it casually, "Even if you think about it, I still can't deal with you?"
The old man in white robe thought about it again and again, and finally made a decision.
The old man in black seemed to have predicted it and made a quick move.
Then the two of them went back and forth, and the sun gradually passed noon. But when the chess game ended, it was the old man in white robe who won half the piece.
He was triumphant and laughed "haha", "You lame man, are you so arrogant? Don't forget to bring me a pot of Sanchunbai next time you come."
The old man in black snorted coldly and walked away, scattering a few chess pieces, but the old man in white didn't take it seriously and instead smiled even more heartily.
He waved, and a servant in blue came quickly, picked up the chess pieces, put them away, and said respectfully: "Master, I have sent people to remind you a few times. It's time for you to eat."
"Don't worry, I won the old cripple today. I'm in a good mood, sir. I don't want to go back and watch them lose their appetite. Let's go to Tianqinglou. It's late autumn and the crab roe should be fat. It's time to have a good time."
After the old man finished speaking, he turned around and said, "Young man, you obey the rules and take things seriously. I have a crush on you. If you are willing, would you like to have a drink with me?"
The servant was anxious, "Sir, the doctor... the doctor said that you cannot drink alcohol until your old illness is healed, and crabs are cold in nature, so it is not advisable to eat too much."
The old man in white robe frowned and said, "You talk too much. I only have to eat a meal, but I have to be controlled by a group of quack doctors? Young man, are you going to go?"
Luo Guan thought for a moment and smiled, "Since the old man invited me, I won't bother you."
"Haha, okay, don't be secretive when you talk. I'll like you more. Let's go, let's have a good time today." The old man in white robe grabbed Luo Guan and left with a laugh.
The servant stamped his feet. If he dared to stop him, Tianqing Tower was not far from here, just a few steps away.
I went up to the second floor and asked for a private room facing the street. When I opened the door, I could see the river. It was just after noon and there was a bit of warmth in late autumn.
When the food and drinks were served, the old man in white robe drank a glass first and said happily, "Okay, this Biyunchun is really a good wine. It's sweet and refreshing in the mouth, and it's quite strong."
"Young man, you're welcome. Feel free to eat and drink. I'm treating you today."
Luo Guan thanked him, took a few bites of the dishes he liked, and raised his glass with the old man in white robe, "Old man, please."
"Haha, let's drink together!" Perhaps because he was old, the old man in white robe only had a few glasses of wine, so his face turned red and he was a bit drunk.
He raised his eyes and said, "Although you don't talk much, your facial features are clear and clean, and there are no distracting thoughts. I have known countless people in my life, and people like you are indeed rare...otherwise
,Huh, not everyone is qualified enough to ask me to buy you a drink."
Luo Guandao: "Thank you for your respect."
The old man in white robe smiled, "You want to know how I became friends with the lame man?"
Luo Guan nodded, "A bottle of Sanchun Bai costs only ten copper coins, and the Biyunchun I'm drinking now costs twenty taels per pot. I'm really curious."
The old man in white robe paused and said, "These are all old things. It's strange that I actually felt a little bit happy about it today."
"That's all, I only have a few years to live. Could it be that before I die, I still dare not speak to others?" He shook his head, showing his thoughts.
"Forty years ago, the old man and the lame man were both on duty in the capital and were members of the Military and Horse Department. That year, a big thief ran into the capital and killed a family of household officials. The old man and the lame man were ordered to trace it. After half a month, they finally found the big thief.
The whereabouts, but unexpectedly it turned out to be a trap... That time, of the thirteen people who went there, only two survived in the end, one was an old man and the other was a lame man."
"Later, the two of us worked together and finally caught the thief. But on the way back to the capital, the old man had a conflict with the lame man. He said that his leg injury was serious and he would definitely be left disabled. Even if he got the credit, his future would be doomed.
Nothing has been accomplished. Why don't you give me the credit and take the blame for the tragic death of your colleagues so that you can have a better life."
"I didn't agree, but in the end, I nodded. But in fact, it was me who made the mistake, and he was the one who caught the thief. In this way, with this credit, I became a high-ranking official and became an official.
After serving as a high official for decades, Cripple was expelled from the Military and Horse Department and remains in a state of desolation to this day."
The old man in white robe grabbed the wine glass and drank it in one gulp. He closed his eyes and burst into tears, "I feel guilty every day these years. A few years ago, I thought about confessing everything and getting rid of the cripple."
It's fair. But later on, I got wives, concubines, and children... Later, I didn't dare to think about this idea again, but I was suffering in my heart, really suffering..."
Luo Guan nodded slightly, and a picture seemed to appear in front of his eyes. Two like-minded young people supported each other in the yamen, and told each other their wishes while drinking. They wanted to serve the court and stabilize the people with their passion, but an accident happened and they were separated.
One feels guilty and rides on the wind.
A man of few words walked away from home.
Until now, when the senior officials returned home to see their old friends, both of them knew everything, but they didn't say much, they just met on the chessboard.
One, I don’t know how to say it.
One, or has become accustomed to silence.
"I... I want to invite the lame man to live in my house to enjoy his old age, but he doesn't want to. I know he has resentment in his heart... How can he not resent it? After all, his good friend in the past rose through the ranks until he became a high official in the imperial court.
But I have never looked at him..."
"I regret it. I would rather I didn't agree back then. I would rather he use his credit to gain peace in the rest of his life..." The old man in white robe murmured, fell down on the chair, and fell asleep.
Luo Guan took a look, his face was full of tears, and he thought to himself that he had not asked questions all these years because he was worried that others would discover the original truth? Or was he afraid that his old friends would be resentful and unwilling to see him seeing his wealth today?
The regret today and the fear back then all come from the bottom of my heart and are this person's true feelings... The human heart is indeed the most complex thing in the world.
When he got up and went out, the servant was outside the door and was shocked when he saw it.
Luo Guandao: "Don't worry, the old man just drank a few more drinks and fell into a deep sleep after being agitated. It's nothing serious."
"Don't move him, just let him sleep here."
The servant inexplicably felt that the person in front of him was trustworthy and hurriedly saluted, "Yes, sir."
After leaving the restaurant, Luo Guan thought for a while and walked in the direction where the old man in black left.
A moment later, in a simple house, he found the loser. The opponent had cooked a bowl of noodles. There were no oil stars, and a few green vegetables were floating on it.
Luo Guan raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"Please come in." The old man in black put down his chopsticks and frowned slightly when he saw Luo Guan push the door open and come in. "Is it you, the young man? Why, seeing that I lost the chess game, do you want to laugh at me?"
Luo Guan shook his head, "The old gentleman misunderstood. It's just that another old gentleman invited me to drink at Tianqinglou just now. He said some things while drunk, and I was a little curious, so I came over."
The expression of the old man in black changed slightly, "What did he say? Haha! When I was young, I couldn't drink enough. When I drank too much, I liked to talk nonsense. If he really said something, future generations don't have to take it seriously. It's just drunken talk."
Luo Guan's heart moved slightly, and he met his eyes, "The old gentleman said that he regretted it. He would rather not have nodded back then, and would rather that you, old gentleman, could use your merits to gain peace in the rest of his life."
The old man in black frowned, "I don't understand what you are saying, young man. I am just a lame old man in the countryside who happened to meet a noble man and liked to play chess with me."
"That's all. Nothing else."
At this point, there is no need to ask any more questions.
Luo Guan cupped his hands, "The old man has a broad mind, and Luo admires him, but since we are old friends reunited after a long separation, it would be better to talk about some things."
"I won't disturb you any more and I'll take my leave."
He bowed his hands and turned to leave.
When the old man in black saw that Luo Guan was really gone, he took a deep breath and said, "Huh! This old guy Liu Sandao is still the same as when he was young. He doesn't know what to do with his mouth after drinking horse urine!" But he couldn't bear the circles under his eyes.
He couldn't help but blush, he lowered his head and wiped it a few times, picked up the noodles and drank it "Sululu".
Are you resentful? When I was young, maybe I had some thoughts, since you are already rich, why can't you help me? At least, find me a wife, make me feel comfortable, and leave a wife by the way.
But then he figured it out, is it so easy to get ahead in the imperial capital? That boy Liu Sandao is the most thoughtful and cautious, and he has a high official position and has married many wives. I heard that he is still alive
He has three sons and four daughters, and everyone is pointing their fingers at him. If there is a disturbance, who will clean up the mess?
So, let’s forget it, at worst, I’ll teach this old boy a lesson on the chessboard! As for calling him “enjoyment”? That’s bullshit! I’m not going to let you watch you, being served by your mother-in-law, descendants and grandchildren every day to enjoy your happiness, I won’t go!
If you want to go, wait until I die and all the secrets disappear. Then call your son or daughter to wear sackcloth and mourn for my old uncle.
Huh, don't look at the miserable life we live in now. When we die, we will definitely have a good grave. Thinking of this, the old man in black's eyebrows relaxed, showing a bit of pride.
Luo Guan walked out of the alley and returned to the riverside where he was playing chess. He took a look at Tianqing Tower and then at the residential area.
"People's hearts are unpredictable, but there are also feelings in people's hearts that never end..." He understood something. After returning to Li's house, he told his servants to get some sleep and not to be disturbed by others, and immediately went to bed and closed his eyes.