Chapter 51 A Young Girl's Feelings Arise Spontaneously
Chapter 51 A Young Girl's Feelings Arise Spontaneously
As Wang Zhihuan spoke, he took a clean gauze, scooped in the wine lees, quickly wrapped it, and tied it closed. His movements were skillful and efficient. "I haven't tasted fresh fish for several days. Today, I'll take this opportunity to catch some stream fish and add a dish to dinner."
Sizi's eyes lit up at the mention of the fish, and she grabbed Wang Zhihuan's sleeve, pulling him towards the courtyard gate, urging him repeatedly, "Hurry up! Sizi wants to see the little fish, and catch lots and lots of them!"
Ah Huang got up from under the jujube tree at some point, wagging its tail and following closely behind Si Zi.
Wang Zhi glanced down at it, then waved his hand lightly: "Go back and stay there. The stream is cold, and your short nose can't stand the dampness."
Ah Huang stopped in his tracks, tilted his head and stared at him for a moment, let out a low whimper, and finally turned around and walked back to the jujube tree to lie down. He rested his head on his front paws, but his eyes still followed the three people's departing figures with longing.
Little Black peeked out from under the stone bench, glanced at Ah Huang, then looked towards the courtyard gate. After hesitating for a moment, it finally retreated back to its original spot and continued to curl up and doze off.
The back mountain valley is hidden in the mountain hollows on the eastern slope.
From the backyard of the farm, climb over the wall, walk north along the ridges of the fields, pass through a rice paddy that has already begun to ripen, and then walk through a small grove of lush pine trees. After about a mile, you will reach the valley.
The journey wasn't far, and the early summer sun already carried a hint of heat. Fortunately, the rice seedlings on both sides of the paddy field were growing vigorously, reaching up to their knees. As one walked in the middle, the rice leaves gently brushed against the hem of one's skirt, rustling softly, and a cool breeze caressed one's face, relieving much of the summer heat.
The scenery in the valley is completely different from that of the farm; it is quiet and elegant, like a secluded paradise.
The mountain spring meanders down from the ravine, flowing gently around the oddly shaped rocks, its tinkling sound never ceasing; the water crashes against the bluestone, splashing up fine, sparkling droplets, lively and leisurely.
The stream is crystal clear, and you can see the reddish-brown pebbles and bluish-gray moss at the bottom. Every now and then, a few small fish, about the length of a finger, dart through the crevices between the rocks, moving nimbly and swiftly.
At the bend in the stream, a shallow pool of water forms, only knee-deep. A few fallen leaves float on the surface, gently swirling in the breeze, creating a tranquil and serene scene.
The weeping willows on the bank sway gently, their thousands of branches hanging down, lightly brushing the water's surface and creating shallow ripples. A gentle breeze blows, and the willow branches sway, creating a picturesque scene.
Wang Zhi walked to the stream, squatted down, picked up stones to create a small puddle on the bank, placed the wooden bucket in it, and used stones to firmly weigh down the bottom of the bucket.
Then, he took out the wine lees wrapped in gauze, stuffed them into the bottom of the fish trap, lifted the stones by the stream, and steadily sank the three fish traps into the deep water. He then moved a few large stones to weigh down the traps to prevent them from being washed away by the current.
"There's no rush once the fish trap is set. We just need to wait quietly for a while." He got up, brushed the sand off his hands, walked to the grassy area by the pond, and casually sat down cross-legged, looking relaxed and at ease.
Sizi immediately stepped forward and imitated him by sitting cross-legged, her little hands neatly placed on her knees, looking very well-behaved and cute.
Chang Le glanced at the grass on the ground, took out her handkerchief and spread it out flat. She sat down quietly next to Si Zi, her demeanor dignified and gentle.
The valley was quiet and still, so quiet that you could hear the gentle rustling of the wind through the pine forest.
In the distance, cuckoos chirped, and nearby, a stream gurgled and flowed. Occasionally, fish and shrimp would leap out of the water and gently fall back in, splashing up tiny droplets of water, creating a peaceful and serene scene.
Wang Zhi leaned against the willow tree behind him, his eyes slightly narrowed, his thoughts drifting into the distance.
In a daze, he recalled his past life, where his grandfather would bring him to the stream to set up fish traps, play in the water, and catch fish, carefree and without worries.
Unfortunately, as time goes by, old friends are hard to find, leaving only memories lingering in my heart, causing both sorrow and joy.
Chang Le sat quietly by the stream, her gaze shifting from the murmuring water to the distant mountains, her eyes filled with confusion, lost in thought.
The distant Qing Shi Ridge is not particularly majestic, but it stands firmly between heaven and earth, its undulating terrain gently embracing the entire valley.
Mountain springs flow ceaselessly from the ravines day and night; the green mountains stand silently for millennia, unmoved. The interplay of movement and stillness creates a captivating and rich atmosphere.
She suddenly remembered what Wang Zhihuan had said about brewing wine earlier in the winery: "The principles are dead, but the hands are alive."
Considering his extraordinary conduct in daily life, as he leans against the willow tree, facing the green hills and flowing water, he must have some unique insights in his heart.
In her heart, she loved this handsome young man's calm and eloquent manner.
"Young Master Wang." Chang Le softly broke the silence of the forest, turning her head to the side. The warm sunlight shone through the gaps in the willow branches, casting a soft halo on her profile, making her look elegant and refined. "As the ancients said, the wise find joy in water, and the benevolent find joy in mountains."
My lord, you admire both the steadfastness of the green mountains and the fluidity of the flowing water; you possess both benevolence and wisdom. I have a question in my mind and wish to ask you, my lord, how you view the ways of the wise and benevolent?
Wang Zhihuan snapped out of his reverie upon hearing the sound, turned his head to look at Chang Le, his gaze calm and serene as he looked at the beauty before him, his heart filled with a mixture of affection and long-term considerations.
He slowly began to speak: "Green mountains and flowing water seem to have very different temperaments. One mountain stands tall and still, while the other flows endlessly."
In my view, the two have never been opposed; they are of the same origin and principle, or perhaps this applies to all things in the world.
The stream in front of your house flows eastward at this moment, seemingly never stopping; but looking at the long river of time, ten or a hundred years later, it will still be flowing here, just like the green mountains, with a solid foundation and enduring through the ages.
The benevolent are like mountains, not rigid and unmoving, but with deep roots, firm will, and unshakable by external vanities;
The wise are like water, not drifting aimlessly, but adaptable and flexible, not clinging to one's own limited perspective.
Those who are truly benevolent possess profound wisdom; those who are truly wise harbor a generous and compassionate heart.
These words were not merely to answer Chang Le's question, but also his personal insights after experiencing the ups and downs of two lifetimes and seeing through the ways of the world and people's hearts.
These words reveal both the noble intention of self-cultivation and the profound strategy for navigating a chaotic world; every word is heartfelt and without a trace of falsehood.
Chang Le lowered her eyes and listened quietly, a faint blush creeping onto the tips of her ears.
For some reason, every time she listened to him analyze the principles of all things in the world and integrate all things into a coherent whole, a warm current would always well up in her heart, and she would feel uneasy.
Especially such a handsome man, possessing both an elegant and graceful figure and a scholarly spirit, with a grand and imposing presence.
A young girl's emotions stirred spontaneously.
"My lord's insights..." she spoke softly, her voice as gentle as a breeze on a stream, "In your eyes, everything in the world has its own reason, and they can blend together seamlessly, forming a unified whole."
"My lady flatters me too much." Wang Zhihuan shook his head and smiled gently. "It's just a few superficial insights I've gained from my daily work and dealings with people. It's nothing to mention."
"Most people in the world may only know how to bury themselves in their work throughout their lives, but they can hardly understand such fundamental principles. Your talent, sir, is enough to be recorded in history without any need for modesty."
diymy