One Lifetime Is Never Enough

1.33 The Famed Scholars of Da Lang

Master Wu was currently sitting at one of the seats, accompanied by another elderly gentleman.

The other elder was Master Liu YangHuan, the other one of the top two famed scholars who also had similarly served the Imperial family members along with his good friend, Wu DanShao.

The two of them were wearing neat clean white robes, and light-colored thicker outer-robes to repel the slightly colder breeze. Both of these elderly gentlemen's facial expression was serene and calm. Their bearing was graceful, and their sagacious wisdom showed on their faces. Their white hairs were tied into a high knot, their white beards flowed naturally, extending past their neck.

From every angle, they looked an epitome of a couple of enlightened sages.

Liu YangHuan was sitting in silence, quietly watching the falling purple and red leaves, his hand holding a cup of tea. He sighed,

"Old friend Wu, this is truly marvelous. What can be more joyful than enjoying a cup of warm zhou(1) tea, while watching autumn painting the air with its magnificent colors."

Wu DanShao nodded slowly, stroking his beard with his fingers in agreement,

"Definitely fitting, Old Liu,"  he smiled behind his full white beard, "This old one could never have foretold that there would be days such as this one." 

He then gazed at the clear sky with faraway nostalgic look in his eyes, "We truly have come a long way, brother Liu."

Liu YangHuan similarly looked at the same spot in the sky that his friend was also staring at, his own stare indistinct,

"Old Wu, considering what we have been through...--," he added with gritted teeth, slight ire appearing on his initially calm face, "Do you remember the trouble we had to go through because of those two brats!!"

"Absolutely!" Wu DanShao was also reminded of a distant past, his white brows knot into a frown, "That SunChen brat! Always attracting trouble!"

"Aiya~, brother Wu. SunChen is still quite alright. What about that student of mine - HeShan. He is gifted in music - this old one admits; But the way he attracted maidens left right and centre... ." his grip on his teacup tightened, 

"Everytime he tuned some melodies, he had a long line of ducks following him... !! He couldn't even handle them properly! He just ran!," Liu YangHuan let out a very undignified snort from his nose,

"Kept giving me trouble!!"

"Ah, SunChen was no better! I should tell you, Old Liu! That minister's daughter kept pestering me to know his whereabouts as soon as he left for Ming town," Wu DanShao lamented,

"And what about that butcher father of a young lady that was attracted to him- just because SunChen having helped her carry her luggage on the street!!," He added, his eyes glimmered with woe, 

"My beard almost turned black when that burly man appeared at my doorstep with a large cleaver - asking for that brat to take responsibility." he added further with a snort as well, "What responsibility!"

"Ai~, When we first found them when they were small, begging on the street, we took them under our wings and taught them what we know.", Liu YangHuan lamented.

"Yes, who knew that those two brats have literary and art talents. But as soon as they grew up, they turned out to be more trouble than we could handle!"

Both turned their heads to look at each other, clearly knowing what the other meant and had gone through. Both let out a loud sigh at the same time.

Then Liu YangHuan let out a hearty laugh, "Never mind! Never mind! The past is gone. Now we are carefree without those two around."

Wu DanShao also laughed, stroking his white beard again, "You are quite right, Old Liu. Who could have guessed that we can have days like today; everyday have been peaceful ever since those two troublemakers left."