Chapter 155 - 152: The Man, the Master
"Xiao Zhou, why didn’t Xiao Li go to university?" Second Sister-in-law asked curiously. ’Seeing how calm and measured Li Xiu is, he would have been a real talent if he had!’
"Jin Chen never attended school. His master taught him everything, mostly using a classical education, so university wasn’t a good fit for him," Zhou Lian said with a smile. ’Jin Chen is the courtesy name Li Xiu’s master gave him. In two lifetimes, I’m the only one he’s ever told. I never called him that once in my past life. Now, it feels inappropriate to use his full name in public, and other names don’t feel right either. His courtesy name is the most fitting.’
"Jin Chen?" Zhang Hongying asked, looking at Zhou Lian with a puzzled expression.
"Jin Chen is Li Xiu’s courtesy name. His master gave it to him before he passed away," Zhou Lian quietly explained to the women of the Zhang family.
"What a fine name! Your master must have been a great scholar!" Father Zhang exclaimed, slapping the table in approval. After a moment’s thought, he asked, "Did your master ever mention his origins?"
Li Xiu glanced at Zhou Lian gently and said with a smile, "Master once mentioned that ’Jin’ comes from an expression meaning ’to possess inner virtue like a fine jade,’ and ’Chen’ comes from an expression for ’treasures from all lands.’ Master used to joke that I, Jin Chen, was his ’precious jade,’ which is why he gave me the name."
The Zhang family was stunned for a moment. ’This master of Li Xiu’s was truly a fascinating character,’ they thought. ’Chinese people have always considered modesty a virtue. To so blatantly praise one’s apprentice and openly express such deep affection for him is rare indeed!’
Suddenly, Father Zhang’s heart seized. ’Could it be him?’ He then shook his head and laughed at the thought. ’It couldn’t be such a coincidence. That man left over twenty years ago. It’s impossible.’ Smiling, he casually asked Li Xiu, "What was your master’s name? Was he from your village?"
"Yes, he was from my village. My master’s name was Ge Xingzhi, courtesy name Yun Qi," Li Xiu replied earnestly. Whenever his master was mentioned, Li Xiu became exceptionally serious and respectful.
"What? It really is him!" Father Zhang exclaimed, his face paling in shock. It truly was the man he had been thinking of—that exceptionally brilliant individual, the one the old leader had spoken of constantly for over twenty years!
Li Xiu and Zhou Lian exchanged a glance. Li Xiu’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he silently watched the agitated Father Zhang, waiting for him to calm down. ’Don’t tell me Master had some connection to the top brass! What a swindler. Why didn’t he give me a heads-up so I could steer clear of this? If there really is a connection, this is going to be a huge headache. I just want to live a quiet life with my wife. Why are all these people who never showed up in my previous life suddenly appearing in this one?’
Li Xiu wasn’t too worried, though. People said he was born with a Seven-orifice Exquisite Heart, but in his opinion, his master must have had dozens of them. That sly old fox was far too cunning; he wouldn’t have left behind enemies to come after his apprentice.
After a little while, Father Zhang calmed down. He gave a wry smile as he looked at the composed expressions on Li Xiu and Zhou Lian. "You two certainly have a lot of composure. Aren’t you curious?"
Li Xiu looked at him calmly. "What’s there to be surprised about? My master treated me like his own son; he wouldn’t have left any trouble for me. As for curiosity, I used up a lifetime’s worth on him. There’s almost none left now." ’Curious, my ass!’ he thought. ’Master once told me that if I ever met someone who knew him, I had to keep my cool. If I embarrassed him, he’d crawl out of his coffin and break my legs. I was curious in my last life but never ran into anyone. Now that I’m not curious, someone shows up. Talk about unpredictable!’
Father Zhang smiled at him, then turned to his second son. "Hongjun, go to your Uncle Ma’s house immediately. Just say an old acquaintance has come to visit and tell him to get here at once."
Zhang Hongjun stared at his father in confusion. ’What’s he playing at now? Uncle Ma is Director Ma, his own boss’s boss. And he’s telling him to rush over? Has Dad gone crazy?’...
"Just go, and hurry! Say exactly what I told you!" Father Zhang snapped, glaring at Zhang Hongjun.
Seeing that his father was about to lose his temper, Zhang Hongjun scurried off. Father Zhang watched his younger son’s back for a moment, then turned to Li Xiu with a smile. "Please don’t mind him. We can talk more once the man arrives."
Li Xiu smiled and nodded. ’Master really is making trouble for me,’ he thought. ’The person coming must be someone of high rank and great authority. That old fox left with the army back then and was gone for decades; he must have risen far. It’s a wonder he was willing to lie low in a village for nearly twenty years.’
Less than an hour later, Zhang Hongjun returned with a uniformed man in his sixties. The moment he stepped inside, an intense, battle-hardened aura filled the room. Li Xiu knew without a doubt that this was a man tempered by the flames of war—the same kind of presence his master occasionally let slip.
"Xiao Zhang, where is this old acquaintance you mentioned?" Director Ma asked urgently the moment he came in.
"Director Ma, please have a seat first. This is Li Xiu, *his* apprentice," Father Zhang said, gesturing for Li Xiu to greet the director.
Director Ma’s gaze immediately fell upon Li Xiu, scrutinizing him from head to toe. He pulled Li Xiu to sit beside him, his stern face softening into a kind smile as he asked softly, "And how is your revered master?"
"My master has passed away," Li Xiu said calmly. "Also, Director Ma, are you certain my master is the person you’re looking for?" ’It would be awkward if this is all just a big mix-up.’
"Passed away? When?" Director Ma asked anxiously. Though he had prepared himself for the possibility, he had still been holding onto a sliver of hope. ’When the old leader hears about this, he’s going to be heartbroken.’
"It’s been nine years."
Director Ma froze for a moment, then said sorrowfully, "It’s been that long... What a terrible shame."
The room fell silent for a long while. Then, Director Ma turned back to Li Xiu and asked gently, "You were there at the end, weren’t you? Did he say anything?"
The corner of Li Xiu’s mouth twitched. He spoke slowly, "I was. Master’s last words were, ’If, by some chance, you ever meet someone who knows me, and you dare to embarrass me, I will climb out of my coffin and break your legs.’ That’s a direct quote."
Director Ma’s expression visibly shifted from dark to red and back to dark again. He took a moment to compose himself before saying, "That certainly sounds like something only he would say." ’The man everyone saw as exceptionally brilliant, elegant, and composed was, in private, famous for his shocking statements. When I served as a security officer under the old leader, I personally witnessed how vicious and demanding he could be with his enemies. He was the perfect example of a man with two faces.’
"Director Ma, are you absolutely sure my master is the man you’re looking for? Please, don’t make a mistake. My master was just an ordinary old cattle herder," Li Xiu reminded him again. ’I really don’t want to get involved with these government types,’ he thought. ’It’s too damn troublesome!’
"A cattle herder? You’re saying your master herded cattle?!" Father Zhang asked, his voice rising in astonishment.
"That’s right. A cattle herder. He spent more than ten years herding cattle for the production team."
"What was your master’s full name?" Director Ma asked grimly. ’Surely *he* wasn’t that eccentric.’
"My master’s name was Ge Xingzhi, courtesy name Yun Qi. He was with the army for several decades before returning to the village in 1954," Li Xiu stated calmly. ’So it’s not a mistake after all,’ he mused. ’I was with Master for over a decade. He never hid it from me, but he never spelled it out, either. And I was just thinking he must have done well for himself in the army!’