Chapter 48: The Zeal of Youth - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

### Chapter 48: The Zeal of Youth City Lord Ma was much older than Chen An, yet he chose to address him with the formal "您" rather than the casual "你." This was because he recognized that the Mr. Chen before him was a person of true noble character. Even though he had been dismissed and exiled to Guanping, his numerous deeds remained widely sung in the capital. In the first year of the new emperor's reign, Chen An was eighteen, full of youthful vigor and ambition. When a flood ravaged the south, destroying countless fields and homes, he volunteered for disaster relief, providing impeccable solutions that left no room for criticism. The following year, when disease spread rampant, he once again put himself at risk, compiling a prevention manual overnight that successfully curbed the epidemic's spread. He also dared to stand up to the aristocratic families in court, pushing for substantial tax reforms and embarking on a series of bold initiatives. It was precisely this tax reform that led to Chen An’s demotion from his ten years of scholarly effort to the status of a commoner, banishing him to Guanping. Yet he never complained, leaving behind a quartet of succinct verses to admonish the court officials: "Establish principles for Heaven and Earth, Forge a destiny for the people, Continue the teachings of the sages, Create peace for all ages." Profound and concise, every word was precious. All who heard were moved to their core, with tears brimming in their eyes. That day, the farewell procession at the capital's dock was exceptionally long. Although Chen An repeatedly claimed his inspiration was from a dream of an immortal, nor was his creation, others dismissed it as a modest pretext. "Mr. Chen, please come, take a seat." City Lord Ma squinted his eyes, a smile on his face, as he stood up to greet him warmly. Chen An first paid his respects to him and then greeted Li Ye. Li Ye glanced at the scattered chess pieces on the floor left by City Lord Ma, a hint of helplessness on his face. He looked up, smiling at his friend, "Chen, it's been a while. How have you been?" He then raised an eyebrow and continued, "Regarding the proposal I mentioned last time, won't you reconsider?" "My sister is a well-known lady in the capital. These years, countless young suitors have come knocking, we've had to repair the threshold numerous times. Are you sure you won't cherish this opportunity?" Hearing this, Chen An gave a bitter smile, flicking his sleeves, which were empty. "With such affection from your sister, I am truly humbled." "But now, being merely a commoner with nothing to my name, how could I dare to inconvenience a fine lady?" Of course, Chen An didn't mention the most important reason: that he wasn't truly from this world, and there would inevitably come a day when he must leave. Li Ye let out a disgruntled hum, "You always use that as an excuse. Did my family ever treat you poorly in the capital because of it?" "If it weren't for my sister insisting that she lost her heart to Chen An at first sight, spending her days in melancholy and tears, would I even humiliate myself by asking you so many times?" As he spoke, his frustration grew, but it wasn't aimed at Chen An; rather, it was directed at his sister's fixation. Finding a three-legged toad in the world may be difficult, but aren't four-legged men everywhere? Why hang oneself on this crooked tree? To this, Chen An could only give an awkward laugh, trying to brush it off. Fortunately, Li Ye wasn't one to push people when they were cornered; he simply needed to vent his long-held feelings. He sighed and apologized, "Chen, I got a bit emotional just now. Please don't hold it against me." At that moment, City Lord Ma, who had been acting unaware on the side, conveniently interjected to ease the situation. Smiling, he said, "Alright, alright. Mr. Chen is a rare guest at my residence. Surely, you've come for something we can assist with?" By initiating the conversation, City Lord Ma hoped to be of service to someone as valuable as Chen An. The world isn't just about conflict and battles; it's about human connections. "You help me, and I help you" is the usual way. Seeing this, Chen An didn't delay further and stated his purpose directly. He contemplated, "City Lord Ma, I'd like to enroll a child I've taken in, in a private school. What do you think?" City Lord Ma was taken aback for a moment, then patted his belly with a hearty laugh, "That's a small matter; feel free to manage it yourself, Mr. Chen." He quickly added, "Should any student in the private school misbehave, Mr. Chen, you can feel free to discipline them without needing my opinion." Chen An cupped his hands, "Thank you, City Lord Ma, in advance." City Lord Ma waved his hand cheerfully, "It's nothing, really. Come, come, today, having Mr. Chen at my residence is a rare occasion. We must treat you well." With that, he pulled Chen An towards the main hall. Chen An initially wanted to refuse, but the other side's enthusiasm, coupled with Li Ye's persuasion, left him with no choice but to comply. At the banquet table, the three of them drank together. Chen An only drank a few sips, spending most of the time watching City Lord Ma and Li Ye drink. Especially Li Ye, whose maid kept refilling his cup without pause. Half-drunk, Li Ye suddenly began speaking of future plans. He looked at Chen An, his voice somewhat low. "In a couple of days, I have to return to the capital." With this statement, the atmosphere visibly tensed. Chen An smiled, "Congratulations, getting reinstated?" Li Ye and Chen An had both been banished to Guanping as a result of that magnificent reform. Li Ye's eyes flickered with complex emotions, and he sighed deeply. "My father still has some connections in the court. With some maneuvering, I'm not just reinstated, but even promoted." A promotion and restored position should be a cause for celebration. Yet Li Ye showed not a hint of joy. He lay on the table, disregarding appearances, murmuring. "Why, Chen, who should be the one returning to the capital... Chen, you are a man of talent; you shouldn't be buried in this small place like Guanping..." "What have I done to deserve this... haha." The man laughed self-deprecatingly. Chen An looked at him, his expression calm, and said softly, "Li, you're drunk." ... ... The following day dawned gently. Chen An, as usual, brushed Luo Cong An's hair, picked up the lesson plan beside him, and, taking the girl by the hand, stepped out of the courtyard. Over the past three years, Luo Cong An's outings had been few and far between. If Chen An wasn't accompanying her, she wouldn't dream of going out alone. She would rather stay at home daydreaming, or mimic her teacher by lounging in a bamboo chair, napping leisurely. So much so that Chen An often wondered if he had been a negative influence on Luo Cong An. He retired leisurely in his twenties, while Luo Cong An seemed fast-tracked into retirement in her teens... Now, in the midst of summer, the streets teemed with people, some turning their heads to glance at the pair. More precisely, they were observing Luo Cong An's striking, snow-white hair. Occasional whispers reached their ears, but neither Chen An nor Luo Cong An paid them any mind. Let those inclined to gossip do so; living well oneself is all that matters. (End of Chapter)