Green Mountain
Chapter 128 - 95, Leaving and Staying

Chapter 128: 95, Leaving and Staying

to 11 PM. When all should return to their origins, into an early sleep.

Yet in some inconspicuous kiln factory, nobody slept; military craftsmen piled kilns throughout the night, Chen Ji and Liang Mao’er pushed a massive stone roller, the Princely Heir and Liu Quxing, She Dengke worked together to sift the raw material finely.

Even the little monk rolled up his sleeves to work hard, continuously bringing in new batches of raw material.

Only Liang Gou’er reclined with his legs crossed, a straw hat over his face, unloved by all.

The Princely Heir crouched beside the stone roller, covered his mouth and nose with cloth, and asked in a muffled voice, "Chen Ji, having accomplished this, can we really leave a mark upon the annals of history?"

Chen Ji laughed, "We can."

The Princely Heir asked again, "What kind of mark?"

Chen Ji answered, "In the autumn of the 31st year of Jianing, Zhu Yunxi, Zhu Baili, Chen Ji, She Dengke, Liu Quxing, the little monk, Liang Mao’er’s invented cement will benefit all generations to come. Cement is a thing that will overturn the eras; within a century, every household building homes will no longer use mud and glutinous rice mortar, but our cement. Even if future histories forget about Prince Fu, Prince An, King Qi, they will not forget us."

A gleam appeared in the Princely Heir’s eyes: "Keep working, keep working!"

Just at that moment, a carriage stopped at the entrance of the kiln factory.

Everyone looked over to see Old Yao being helped off the carriage by the coachman, still holding two bamboo sticks in his hand...

Liu Quxing, She Dengke’s complexions changed, "This is bad, we didn’t tell the master we wouldn’t be back tonight, he’s come to thrash us!"

Both of them looked at the Princely Heir in unison: "Princely Heir, save us! The master will surely not be too harsh because of your face!"

The Princely Heir said bitterly, "At Doctor Yao’s, what face do I have?"

From afar, Old Yao scoffed, "The Princely Heir still has a bit of self-awareness."

Liu Quxing took the initiative to approach Old Yao, smiling awkwardly, "Master, must be tiring holding those two bamboo sticks, let me hold them for you for a bit."

But as soon as he reached out, the back of his hand met with a bamboo stick.

Old Yao said in a sparse tone, "I recall the last thrashing I gave you for not returning at night was just a few days ago. It seems I really am getting old, my strength diminished, a beating doesn’t even help you remember."

Liu Quxing’s eyes shifted, quickly changing the subject: "Master, today Chen Ji’s father came to the kiln factory, he mentioned he had discussed with you about sending him to Donglin Academy, no need for apprenticeship at our Medical Hall anymore."

"Oh?" Old Yao slowly turned to look at Chen Ji beside the stone roller: "That’s good news, how come you didn’t go with your father but instead are here pushing the stone roller, doing rough work?"

"Master, I want to stay at Taiping Medical Hall."

Old Yao laughed, "You’re giving up the riches and comfort of the Chen family for hardship? I’ve already agreed with Mr. Chen, you better go back to the Chen Mansion."

Chen Ji calmly said, "I don’t believe you agreed with him."

Old Yao raised his eyebrows,"Your father came to the Medical Hall today, sent an array of eight gifts, among them ten silver ingots, a silver ring ruler, why wouldn’t I agree? Don’t act like you’re some kind of treasure, I can’t wait for you to go home early and stop vexing me at the Medical Hall."

Liu Quxing took the opportunity to move a chair for Old Yao, supporting his master to sit down: "Master, when Mr. Chen came today, Chen Ji already righteously refused him. Please calm down, if he doesn’t want to go back to the Chen family, it’s all because of the bond of master and apprentice with you."

Old Yao was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Liu Quxing: "There’s some food in the carriage, donkey meat buns and sweet garlic, go get them and share. Young people don’t know their own strength half the time, getting hungry and full, but when you get old, you’ll understand that having a good body is the most important thing."

Liu Quxing’s eyes lit up, almost shedding tears of gratitude, "Master cares about us after all!"

In the evening, their heads heated by their work, they had returned to the kiln factory without a meal; if not for the military craftsmen’s brothers sharing some cakes, they might still be starving now!

Everyone ran towards the carriage, but Chen Ji stood still without moving.

In the night, the youth and the old man looked at each other from a distance, like the Mountain Lord facing the Mountain Lord, as if the old era and the new era gazed upon each other.

This master, seemingly harsh with his words, yet brought a carriage full of food.

Old Yao fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Go back, go back to the Chen Mansion."

Chen Ji was surprised, "Why?"

Old Yao looked up at the night sky, speaking slowly, "A position in the Chen family is something that others can’t reach even after several lifetimes, going back is good for you. Whether you continue to explore medicine or plan to take the imperial examination at Donglin Academy, it’s better than staying in my small Taiping Medical Hall. There’s not much I can still teach you about the Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture, you don’t need to stay with me."

Chen Ji was taken aback; he hadn’t expected that his master, after a day’s hard thought and rushing over in the night, was not to hold on to him, but to persuade him to leave.

He knew that Old Yao had certainly refused Chen Liqin at first.

But after a whole day of thought and countless mental debates, Old Yao still chose a smoother path for Chen Ji.

Simply because it was better for Chen Ji.

Old Yao calmly said, "The research of the Mountain Lord Sect consumes money like running water, staying at Taiping Medical Hall, even if you learn my medical skills, you could only slowly accumulate money with one tael of silver per patient. Ultimately, you’d waste your life, never reaching the threshold of the Divine Realm. If you return to the Chen family, as long as you pass the exams, even a bastard will have plenty of silver for expenses."

Chen Ji hmmed in acknowledgment.

Old Yao had much to say tonight, continuing, "Jin Zhu visited the Medical Hall again today, still could not find you; his patience will eventually exhaust. If you go back to the Chen family, torn between fear and caution, he likely won’t dare touch you."

"Go back, the Chen family suits you better."

Chen Ji said, "But Master, one can’t always choose what is suitable for them, one must choose what one desires."