Qiuyuefang is located in the southern part of Dajing. Within a radius of several dozen miles, there are approximately three to four hundred households. Although there are fewer visitors, it is still very lively.
The market was bustling with people. Vendors by the street were Shouting their wares. An old man in a tavern was fetching wine for people, with wrinkles on his face. A butcher in a butcher's shop was stewing bones in an attempt to attract passers-by. People walked along the street, sometimes stopping and sometimes chatting for a while.
''I'd like a bunch of wine''
A pair of black and white soap boots stepped into the tavern.
The visitor had his hands behind his back, dressed in a long green robe. His face was handsome, with two strands of hair hanging down his cheeks. A gourd was hanging at his waist.
"Here I come..."
Old Zhang from the tavern agreed and then rushed over in a hurry.
After seeing the visitor, Old Man Zhang paused for a moment.
Chen Changsheng gave a slight smile and then handed the gourd tied around his waist to the other person.
"You..."
Old Zhang's words came to an abrupt halt. He suddenly froze on the spot.
Chen Changsheng looked at the old man Zhang in front of him and said, "Don't you recognize me?"
"Sure....."
Old Zhang smacked his lips and said somewhat blankly, "I recognize you!"
Chen Changsheng said, "Autumn Moon Brew. First, serve a pot and then fill the gourds."
"Ok..." Ok.
Old Zhang responded with a nod, took Chen Changsheng's gourd, and then turned around to get some wine. However, compared to just now, there was a hint of fear in his expression.
Later, when it was time to get the wine, he was also a little unsteady, as if afraid that some wine might have spilled, which made this "Mr. Chen" unhappy.
Chen Changsheng came to the tavern and sat down. Old Zhang soon brought up a pot of Autumn Moon wine.
"Sir, please enjoy it slowly."
Old Zhang said, his eyes filled with respect and a hint of timidity.
It seemed that Old Zhang was reluctant to talk much to this gentleman and turned around to give the gourd wine.
Chen Changsheng didn't care either and then poured himself some wine.
As the wine swallowed, accompanied by the wind blowing into the tavern in the early spring of March, his expression also became more cheerful.
His gaze swept outside the tavern.
Three years have passed in the blink of an eye. During these decades, Qiuyuefang has become increasingly lively.
When Old Man Zhang finished pounding the wine in the gourd, the gentleman sitting in the tavern had already drunk half a pot and his face was a little more flushed.
"Sir, the wine is ready."
Put it here.
"Ok."
After putting down the gourd, Old Man Zhang wanted to leave.
Chen Changsheng, however, said, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Sit down and talk.
Old Zhang stopped in his steps. Despite having tens of thousands of unwillingness in his heart, he dared not disobey this gentleman at this moment.
He sat down carefully, but there was an uncontainable timidity in his eyes.
Chen Changsheng smiled and said, "Are you so afraid of me?"
Old Man Zhang looked bitter and said, "I'm also quite old. Sir, please don't scare me."
His tone was almost pleading and even more helpless.
After hearing this, Chen Changsheng said, "I'm neither a monster nor an evil spirit. How could I have scared you again?"
Old Zhang glanced at him but quickly averted his gaze. Feeling extremely uncomfortable, he threw his hand on the table and said, "I first met you when I was sixteen. It's been over fifty years since then. My parents have long passed away in peace, and I'm sixty-seven. I'm too old to look like I'm..."
He raised his head and continued, "But Mr. Chen, you still look the same as when I first saw you at the age of sixteen."
How can I not be afraid of this?
Old Man Zhang lowered his head and dared not look at this gentleman.
Chen Changsheng took a sip of wine and said, "Look at your cowardly appearance."
Old Zhang panted and panted as if he wanted to retort a few words, but unexpectedly, he couldn't utter a word for a long time.
"I came to you only to get drinks and drinks. When have you seen me harming you?" " Chen Changsheng said.
This statement is indeed correct. Every three years, Chen Changsheng would come once. Each time, it was the same. He would pour a pot of wine, fill it up with a bunch of gourds. Sometimes he would sit down and chat for a while, and sometimes he would leave after finishing the wine.
Old Zhang recalled many events over the years and, as if made up his mind, gritted his teeth and asked about the doubts in his heart.
Then, Sir, tell me the truth. After all, you... What is it?
His gaze was fixed on Chen Changsheng, and the expression on his face seemed to have a sense of readiness for death.
Chen Changsheng was somewhat surprised. He put down the wine glass in his hand and said, "This time, why do you dare to ask again?"
Old Man Zhang let out a soft sigh and said, "I'm so old that I don't even have two years left to live. What else do I dare not ask?"
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "We've met quite a few times. We can be considered old acquaintances. Why don't you take a guess first? What would I be?"
Old Man Zhang opened his mouth and said, "I dare not guess."
"I don't blame you. Just guess." " Chen Changsheng said.
Old Zhang thought for a moment and gritted his teeth, saying, "Sir, are you a demon?"
"No."
"Ghost?"
"Not really."
Old Zhang smacked his lips and asked again, "That's..." "Immortal?"
Chen Changsheng still shook his head but said nothing.
In fact, he himself doesn't even know if it counts or not.
Old Zhang looked at him longingly. If it wasn't a monster, a ghost or a deity, then what could it be? He really couldn't think of it.
Chen Changsheng raised his head to look at him and said, "It's a mayfly."
Old Zhang paused for a moment and asked, "What is a mayfly?"
Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, "Nothing."
In fact, he isn't from here. It was just an accident that sent him here.
And the origin of all this lies in the carving of a mayfly.
During that archaeological excavation, after he came into contact with a lifelike mayfly carving, an accident occurred. His vision suddenly went black and he fainted completely.
When he wakes up again, he will be here.
There was no opportunity, nor was there any immortal to guide the way, and unfortunately...
It seemed as if he were stained with a curse.
Every three years, he can only wake up for one day.
It was just like a normal person sleeping, but he would sleep for three years. During those three years, Chen Changsheng only had his consciousness still clear, but he couldn't feel his own body, see anything, or hear any sound. All he could do was think.
Every time he woke up, at the dawn of the sun and at dusk, he would die again.
Like plankton.
In his world, it had only been eighteen days since he woke up, but in fact, fifty-four years had already passed in this realm.
Just like Old Man Zhang in front of me.
When I first met him, he was still that naive and inexperienced young man. But in the blink of an eye, his hair has turned white and he walks unsteadily.
All of this was like a misfortune haunting Chen Changsheng.
...
Old Zhang was full of doubts in his heart.
He wanted to ask again, but at this moment, he no longer had the courage he had just had. When he felt it again, he found that cold sweat was already streaming down his back, soaking his clothes.
I dare not ask any more.
In the end, Chen Changsheng didn't explain what the so-called "mayfly" was. He just kept drinking wine by himself.
Old Zhang just sat there, not daring to say another word.
It was particularly silent in the tavern.
It was not until Chen Changsheng finished drinking that the silence was broken.
Chen Changsheng asked, "I remember that you seem never married, so you don't have any children, right?"
"Sure." Old Man Zhang replied.
Chen Changsheng continued, "Didn't you think of passing on your wine-making skills?"
Old Zhang replied, "Nowadays, the world has improved. The younger ones in the workshop have all gone outside. How many are willing to stay and learn my craft?"
That won't do.
Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, "If you go, won't I have nothing to drink about this Autumn Moon wine?"
Old Zhang opened his mouth and said, "Aren't you making things difficult for me?"
Chen Changsheng smiled and said.
I'm not making things difficult for you.
The wine was also finished. He picked up the wine gourd and got up as if he was about to leave.
The moment Chen Changsheng stood up, Old Zhang felt as if a huge stone had been lifted from his heart.
Chen Changsheng stepped out of the tavern with one foot, but suddenly turned his head to look at Old Man Zhang.
I'll come again in three years.
Chen Changsheng said, "Remember to prepare the Autumn Moon wine in advance."
"Hey."
Old Zhang hurriedly responded and said, "Sir, take care!"
Under his gaze, the gentleman slowly disappeared into the alley and was never seen again.
Old Man Zhang let out a long sigh of relief.
After returning to the tavern, he slumped down, in a daze for a long time, not coming to his senses.
(End of this chapter)