EBE Chapter 206: The First Encounter of Prosperity
Chapter 206: The First Encounter of Prosperity
"Liu Hua, what are you doing going to the city, kid?" Along the way, several companions met him and surrounded him excitedly.
"I'll go find Chen Fang." Liu Hua answered confidently, his tone full of determination.
"Chen Fang, she has really become a talented woman in the city! I heard that the fellow students in the school over there are all praising her!" One of them laughed, and the envy in his eyes became more and more obvious.
"Yes, I heard the elders talking about it yesterday. If it weren't for the articles she wrote for the village, I'm afraid we would be unknown and without any status in the village." Another person said, clapping the bamboo pieces in his hands, making a crisp sound.
"She is the pride of our village!" A young man pointed his finger to the sky, his eyes full of admiration, "I really hope I can be her student, then I can also understand some poetry."
An indescribable sense of pride welled up in Liu Hua's heart. In silence, he seemed to see the girl studying hard in class, with a focused expression and determination and confidence revealed between her brows.
"If I could meet her, I would definitely tell her that everyone in the village is looking forward to her coming back to bring new knowledge to the children." Liu Hua thought, a smile spreading across his lips.
"Hey, this kid has an idea!" One of them teased, nudging Liu Hua with his elbow, "Are you going to confess your love to her?"
"Go away and mind your own business." Liu Hua smiled slightly, and his pure feelings for Chen Fang were involuntarily revealed, but in the end he chose to remain silent.
They walked all the way to the city gate, and Liu Hua's heart began to beat wildly. The city gate stood tall and majestic, and the noise of vendors at the gate rose and fell. The prosperity and noise were dazzling. Liu Hua raised his head, took a deep breath, and mustered up his courage to move forward.
"Liu Hua, remember to bring us stories when you come back!" his companions shouted with laughter.
"Sure!" Liu Hua turned around and waved goodbye with mixed feelings.
Entering the city, Liu Hua was shocked by the scene before him. The tall houses, neat bluestone roads, and the hurried pedestrians were all scenes that he could hardly imagine in the village. He tried not to be distracted by these scenes and walked straight towards the school.
Soon, he arrived at the gate of the school. On the plaque hanging at the gate, there were four big characters "Hanlin Academy" written on it. There were some people reading attentively nearby. Liu Hua looked at this magnificent building and became more and more excited.
Just as he was hesitating whether to go in, a young man with a handsome face and a few books in his hands walked out of the door. Seeing Liu Hua, he was slightly stunned, and then smiled: "Are you looking for Chen Fang?"
"Yes, I'm her friend in the village. I came to the city to find her recently." Liu Hua nodded, feeling a sense of intimacy in his heart.
"Then you are really destined to meet. She just finished class and should be in the backyard." There was a hint of guidance in the young man's words, as if he was a fellow traveler who had known him for many years in this city.
"Thank you very much." Liu Hua's heart was filled with gratitude and he hurried towards the backyard.
Stepping into the backyard, green bamboos swayed, flowers bloomed, the breeze blew, and a scent of books came towards him. Liu Hua became more and more excited, and everything in front of him seemed to pave the way for the reunion he longed for.
At this moment, he saw a familiar figure sitting at a wooden table, concentrating on a book with her head down. The sunlight shone through the leaves, outlining her beautiful and refined figure. Liu Hua's heart tightened, and he walked forward quickly, his voice slightly nervous: "Chen Fang."
She raised her head, her eyes sparkling with surprise, "Brother Liu, you're here!"
This call was like a spring breeze, which instantly made Liu Hua's heart surge with warmth. He smiled, and his face showed a long-lost ease, as if all the fatigue from the journey disappeared instantly. "I finally came to see you!"
"Liu Hua, what's wrong with you?" A young scholar who was walking by stopped and asked when he saw him in a daze.
"I... I'm a little nervous." Liu Hua smiled and shook his head, wiping the sweat from his forehead awkwardly. "I didn't expect the city to be so lively!"
"Haha, it's a bit strange when you first arrive here." The scholar patted Liu Hua on the shoulder. "I was also very nervous when I first came here. Just get used to it slowly. There are many fun places in the city."
Liu Hua nodded, and the tension in his heart eased a little, but the prosperity and hustle and bustle still made him extremely restrained. He looked around, trying to find the direction to the school, and he just wanted to see Chen Fang as soon as possible.
"By the way, are you here to look for Chen Fang?" the scholar guessed when he saw him looking around.
"Yes, I'm her friend in the village and I came here specially to see her." There was a hint of anticipation in Liu Hua's tone.
"Chen Fang is well-known in our school. Her talent has attracted countless students." A trace of admiration flashed in the scholar's eyes. "I believe she will help you solve your problem."
Liu Hua heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this. He was even more excited: "Thank you. Do you know the exact location of the school?"
"Of course, go this way, go straight at the intersection of the two roads, then turn left, and you will see it soon. When you share your thoughts, be sure to tell her that I say hello." The scholar pointed ahead and said enthusiastically.
"I will, thank you." Liu Hua returned the greeting gratefully, and then walked in the direction pointed by the scholar. His expectation became stronger, and his steps became more determined.
Along the way, Liu Hua looked at the lives of the people around him. Some people were selling snacks on the street, some were enthusiastically hawking all kinds of goods, and there were children running and playing. Everything seemed to be too much for him to take in. He couldn't help thinking, how wonderful this kind of life is, Chen Fang must be very happy here.
At this moment, a lively hawking voice attracted his attention. "Come and have a look, the snacks here are freshly baked, come and have a taste!" A woman in brightly dressed danced and greeted passers-by enthusiastically.
"I've never seen these snacks before!" Liu Hua walked forward curiously, full of interest. The stall was filled with tempting pastries and fragrant aromas.
"Hey young man, would you like to try some?" The woman smiled with kindness in her eyes.
"Okay, thank you." Liu Hua took out a few copper coins and bought a piece of fragrant snack. He took a bite and the sweet taste made him exclaim, "It's delicious!"
"They are just some little gadgets. If you are interested, you can buy some more and bring them to Chen Fang. She will definitely like them." The woman said with a smile.
Liu Hua thought of Chen Fang and felt happy, "Then I'll give you a few more pieces." His tone was full of warmth, as if he was preparing a small gift for a friend he was about to meet.
"Here, put it here." The woman wrapped the cake skillfully and handed it to him, then said playfully, "He is really a visitor from a foreign land, we must not treat our friends badly!"
"Thank you, I will definitely bring it there." Liu Hua took the pastry and felt even happier.
Liu Hua continued walking forward, and soon he finally arrived at the gate of the school. The simple and quaint building looked even more solemn in the sun, with four large characters "Hanlin Academy" hanging at the gate. As soon as he entered, the sound of reading in the wide courtyard and the teachings of Confucius and Mencius were all around his ears.
He took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to step into the courtyard. He silently recited Chen Fang's name in his heart, and in an instant, all the anxiety and tension turned into expectation and hope.
As they walked, Liu Hua finally found her figure. The sun shone through the branches of the sycamore tree. Chen Fang was sitting at the desk, concentrating on reading the test paper. Liu Hua's heart moved, and his steps quickened involuntarily.
"Chen Fang!" he called happily.
She turned around after hearing the voice, the surprise on her face was hard to conceal, "Brother Liu! You really came!"
At this moment, Liu Hua's heart was filled with warmth, as if the hustle and bustle outside the city had gone away, and only she in front of him was the most precious existence. He smiled and handed over the cake in his hand, "I bought this on the road, and brought it specially for you!"