"This is Luoyang!"
The two got off the carriage and were waiting to be interrogated. When they looked up at the city tower in Luoyang, Yin Yi was surprised and said, "Why is there no one taking charge? It looks like Luoyang has been dilapidated for a long time."
"He is no longer the Luoyang that I and even your master are familiar with. Let's go and have a look."
The two got back on the carriage and entered Luoyang City. They opened the curtains of the carriage and looked out the window. Although they could still see the smoke curling up from the kitchen, it was no longer what it should be like as an important city in the hinterland of the Central Plains of the Eastern Region.
"So is this really Luoyang, the capital of the Zhou Dynasty? How did it become like this?" Even though Yin Yi has never been out of the mountain gate, he has a father who understands astrology and was once a doctor of the Zhou Dynasty, and a man who understood the Dao and was once a doctor. Yin Yi, the master who kept the history of the Tibetan Chamber of the Great Zhou Dynasty, had a fairly comprehensive understanding of the Eastern Region.
"You said that your master didn't tell me some things, but I'm afraid it's the teacher's private matter, and the teacher who didn't tell me as a disciple must also have his own difficulties."
Look, here we go again! As a disciple, you, old man, just spoil that old man! Luoyang is like this - could it be caused by this master?
"By the way, father, did the bamboo slips our master gave us say where he asked us to go and what to do?"
"There must be something there." Faced with Yin Yi's question, Yin Wen took out the scroll of bamboo slips, spread it out and took a quick look, then handed it to Yin Yi: "It seems to be looking for something - you don't want to You’re so lazy, give it a thought.”
Yin Yi took the bamboo slip, which was handed to Yin Wen by the old man Qingniu before they set off. He opened the bamboo slips and read aloud: "To the east of Luoyang City, counting inward from the tripod gate, there is the sixth maple tree, the small courtyard on the right, the east wing inside, the cellar near the north corner, six steps from the outside... ...Haha! Hahahaha! Hahaha - Father, please forgive me! The kid really can't help it!"
This uncharacteristically weird style of painting would be too difficult for the young man Yin Yi to hold back his temper. After all, the old official who snatched the bamboo slip and checked it carefully almost couldn't hold back.
Then Yin Wen's expression was a little confused, but it was not that he was confused, but that something in his heart seemed to have collapsed.
Fortunately, out of deep respect for the teacher, Yin Wen finally focused on the specific location.
The carriage swayed quickly to the east of the city. Following the guidance on the bamboo slips, the two got off the carriage next to the sixth maple tree.
Yin Wen walked to the small courtyard, and out of basic courtesy and caution, he knocked on the door. As a result, the wooden door was a bit old, and his knuckles directly dug into a piece of wood. After a while, no one answered. Yin Wen patted the door vigorously again, but half of the door collapsed with a bang. At the same time, the dust, sand, and sawdust on the door frame covered his face, making him very embarrassed.
Yin Yi shrank back, trying not to make his laughter too obvious.
After making sure that no one lived in the yard, Yin Yi drove the carriage to the maple tree and tied it up, put a bell on the horse, and then followed Yin Wen across the yard and into the house. Then following the directions, Yin Wen took out a shovel from nowhere and dug a hole six steps from the outside to the inside of the cellar. As the broken soil was thrown up, a waist badge was gradually revealed.
"This thing?" Yin Yi picked up the token, walked to a bright place, turned it over and looked at it carefully. The pattern on the back of the waistband is quite delicate, but even if you hand it to Yin Wen, you can't see anything. As for the front, it has the word "Shou Zang" in big letters.
After reaching the ground and returning to the carriage, Yin Wen stopped and said to his son who still had a childish face: "Then you have to walk the rest of the way by yourself."
"Father? Father, what have I done wrong? Are you going to kick me out of the house now?"
"I'm not driving you out of the house, I'm asking you to go out and have some adventures. Go in the direction you want to go, that's all. This is your master's meaning, and it is also my meaning now. I also hope this can become your meaning. The ancestor is old, and my father will be old too, and you have to walk the next road by yourself."
Although Yin Yi has a teenage temperament most of the time, it finally feels like it's time to separate. Not only does he feel a sore nose, but he also feels a little bit reluctant to let go. Yin Wen pushed a roll of bamboo slips to Yin Yi, "Your master gave this to you. I told you before not to open it. Now I tell you, don't open it. If you really don't know where to go, then Take it towards the academy."
"Academy Palace?"
"Yes! There is currently a large government-run school in Qi State. It is the Academy, a place that students all over the world yearn for. Master asked you to take the bamboo slips in that direction."
"Direction." Even though he felt uncomfortable, Yin Yi still had a high ability to capture information. "Does that mean you don't necessarily have to go to the Academy?"
"This is just for you to go out and figure it out for yourself. My father has been observing the stars these past few days and nights, and he has also discovered some things. Master really wants you to go in that direction, but maybe he wants you more to go from Luoyang to On this journey to the Academy, I will experience some things and change some things."
"Have you experienced anything on the way?" Yin Yi was very confident in his father's stargazing ability and began to be cautious about what might happen next.
"Yi'er, my father can't give you too much advice on this journey ahead. I'll leave this horse to you and ride it towards the academy. By the way, keep this package safe. There's an ultimatum inside. The expense is enough for you to walk to the academy."
Yin Yi suppressed the smile on his face and leaned down. "The unfilial son Yin Yi kowtows to his father."
After a long period of hesitation, Yin Yi agreed to his master and father's wishes, and he also began to want to make a living outside. Although Yin Yi really wants to stay at home for the rest of his life, he also feels that he should really go out for a walk at this time and take a look at the scenery outside. How about the scenery at home? There are family members at home to rely on, but can he find anyone worthy of relying on him outside?
There are old scholars like my master and old stubborns like my father at home. Will there be more people of all kinds outside, and what interesting things will happen between them? Thinking of this, the corners of Yin Yi's mouth gradually raised.
The morning light of the second day shone on the ancient city of Luoyang. Father and son waved goodbye. Yin Wen stopped and watched his young son go away in a direction full of goals and unknowns.
…
The red sun rises, and the morning light shines on the Sophora Valley, dispersing the thick fog in the mountains.
The old man Qingniu stood on a stone and looked into the distance. After a long while, he couldn't help but laugh, "This kid, you can go in and take a look after getting the sign, why did you just leave?"
"It seems that he was driven away by my junior brother." The old man in linen robe said with a smile.
The old man Qing Niu glanced at the old man robed in linen and asked, "Has the next journey been arranged?"
The old man in linen robe said with a smile: "Even if I don't arrange it, someone will arrange it for him, right?"
The old man Qingniu laughed and scolded: "You are such an evil disciple." Then, the conversation changed. "I'm afraid chaos is about to start, so I won't stay here any longer and will leave first."
"How many more days will the teacher stay?" Looking at the back of the old man Qing Niu, the old man in linen robe could only say: "Teacher, go slowly."
As soon as he finished speaking, the old man Qing Niu turned around again, approached the old man in linen robe, and stretched out a hand.
"What did the teacher say? Just tell me, I will try my best to do it."
"Take out the two best jars of wine in your cellar. I will be thirsty on my way to becoming a teacher."
"..."
