Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 42 A Sudden Enlightenment

Jiang Yi looked down at the watermelon in his hand and felt its icy coldness seep into his heart from his palm.

As night fell, with a swift stroke of the knife, the melon rind snapped with a crisp sound, and the flesh inside felt slightly chilly.

The sweet and glutinous texture is accompanied by a refreshing coolness that sends a shiver down your spine, followed by a sigh of relief.

From that day on, whenever the peaches, plums, and apricots in the Jiang family's orchard were picked, they would be thrown into that cold ground to cool completely before being handled.

Liangjie Village is such a small place that Jiang Yi was too lazy to carry people on his back.

Once half a basket of refreshingly cool watermelons was distributed, the story of "watermelons stored in cold places" quietly spread throughout the village.

Some of the quick-witted neighbors would pretend to visit and gossip, but their eyes were already darting behind the fence.

Jiang Yi wasn't annoyed. He cheerfully pointed to the mountain in front of him and said it was land cultivated by Liu Family Village.

I just happened to live nearby and took care of things conveniently.

Once he said that, about 70-80% of the people actually believed him.

The Liu family has always been shrouded in mystery, and the villagers believe it when they say that they are the ones who invented these things.

At that moment, someone blurted out with a grin:
"Brother Jiang, it's so hot today, can we come into your icy cave to cool off?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi only smiled and remained silent. After a long while, he slowly said:
"This place is eerily cold; it's not a place to escape the summer heat. If you're not very susceptible, the cold will seep into your bones, and you'll have to sit by the stove for three days when you get back."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man's face immediately fell.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yi didn't want to refuse too bluntly, so after thinking for a moment, he added with a smile:
"It's not appropriate for people to go in, but it wouldn't be a problem if we could take some fruit to cool off. Anyone who wants some chilled melon or plums, just bring them over."

Upon hearing this, the crowd indeed became more interested.

In less than half a day, someone eagerly brought over a basket of freshly picked nectarines, bright red and glistening with moisture.

When the neighbors saw this, they followed suit, bringing melons, fruits, pears, and peaches from their own fields, as if it were some kind of festival.

Jiang Yi didn't refuse, and simply rolled up his sleeves and dug a row of pits on the edge of the cold land.

The depth was just right, and the size was perfect for fitting into the bamboo baskets commonly used in the village.

Once the fruits and vegetables are placed inside, less than half an hour later, when the lid is lifted again, a fine, cool breeze rises from their skins.

Take a bite, and the coolness seeps straight from your teeth to your heart; the sweetness makes you tremble slightly, and the coldness is refreshingly invigorating.

The villagers knew exactly what to expect when they came to collect the fruits and vegetables.

After mentioning their own share, they would always leave a few things in the field, saying, "Let the Jiang family kids have a taste."

Within just a few days of comings and goings, the Jiang family's house was filled with the look of a fruit stall.

Here, the baskets are full of apricots; there, the plum baskets are overflowing; and there are crisp dates that some family has been trying to grow, making a crunchy sound when you chew them.

Jiang Xi, who used to crave fruit the most, has now become picky.

They would often pout and complain that this was sour or that was astringent, only tasting the sweet and cool ones.

Jiang Ming was still the same as always. As soon as he finished his studies, he would carry half a basket of melons and fruits and rush to the back mountain.

The family ate heartily, and even the chickens in the yard benefited from the feast.

Those rotten or overripe fruits and vegetables all became snacks in the chicken coop.

In that cold land, a patch of Illusory Shade Grass, whose sprouts are yet to be seen, has already provided the Jiang family with a season's worth of fruit that they can't finish eating.

Days flowed by quietly like water, and Jiang Ming crossed the threshold of eleven years old.

He's grown quite a bit taller, and his arms and legs have become stronger.

Every day, he is still busy with the affairs of the ancient and modern gang, leading a group of teenagers in the village, practicing horse stance, kicking and stretching their legs.

The snacks they collected were considered a donation, and once gathered, they were secretly sent to the back mountain. Over time, the villagers got used to it.

Putting everything else aside, just looking at the young men of Liangjie Village, they have all become much stronger and more robust.

The sun was shining brightly that day.

Jiang Yi moved a small stool and sat under the shade of a tree in the yard, holding an oilstone in his hand, slowly and methodically sharpening his sickle.

Suddenly there was a sound at the door. I looked up and saw that Master Cen had come uninvited.

Jiang Yi quickly put down his sickle, stood up to greet the man, and invited him into the house, where he also brewed a pot of fresh tea.

He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he felt a growing unease.

This scholar was not one to go out idly; he would not visit unless there was a reason.

I'm afraid that kid Jiang Ming has caused some trouble at the academy again.

But as soon as Master Cen sat down, he chuckled and stroked his three short wisps of beard, his eyes and brows beaming with joy, and began to speak:
"I've come today not for any other reason than to tell you that your Jiang Ming seems to have suddenly become enlightened lately."

"Not only can he recite what was taught in class perfectly, but he can also explain the meaning and structure of the classics quite well."

His tone wasn't just one of surprise, but also a hint of smugness:
"I originally thought he was just a bit tough, but I didn't expect him to be quite clever as well. He actually managed to figure out some of the secrets in the book."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi paused, his hand slipped, and the teapot fell off balance, the lid tilting to one side.

But a question began to linger in his mind.

How could he not know his own eldest son?

While he wouldn't fall asleep the moment he sees a book, he's hardly a bookish person either.

Not to mention any "enlightenment".

“That kid Jiang Ming has really shown some talent lately.”

Seeing the disbelief on his face, Master Cen picked up his teacup and took a sip, but couldn't suppress the smile on his lips, and his tone carried a rare hint of approval:
"With such talent, if he could leave this village and go to a school in the county or even the prefecture, receive guidance from several renowned teachers, and hone his skills according to the rules for a few years..."

"In the future, there is a real chance that he will be recommended as a talented and virtuous official, take a righteous path in his official career, and strive for a bright future."

As he spoke, he gently placed the teacup back on the table, lightly tapped the rim of the lid with his finger, sighed, and his tone suddenly changed:

"If he were confined to this tiny place, Liangjie Village, he could teach a class and learn to read, but if we were to talk about his future, it would be a waste of such a promising talent."

Jiang Yi listened quietly without saying a word.

"Talented and virtuous" were titles bestowed by the imperial court in selecting officials and pursuing a legitimate career.

If someone else heard these words, they would probably burst into tears on the spot.

He turned around and wanted to step into the county and prefecture, to seek out famous teachers and attend the fairs, wishing he could immediately embroider the words "fame and fortune" onto his body.

But Jiang Yi knew in his heart that the child's experiences in the back mountain were ten or even a hundred times better than fame and fortune.

Therefore, he neither readily agreed nor showed the slightest hesitation; he simply placed the teacup back on the edge of the table and said in a calm tone:
"It all depends on the kid's own wishes. If he's unwilling, forcing him won't work and will only damage his character."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the gate creaked open, and Jiang Ming strolled in leisurely.

He had somehow found a crooked twig in his hand, and while walking slowly, he was gesturing and crackling about, looking quite excited.

Upon seeing the Master, he stopped what he was doing and hid the branch behind his back.

Jiang Yi didn't beat around the bush and explained in detail why Master Cen had come to visit today, implying that he wouldn't hide anything.

The child listened, head down, fingers twirling on the branch like a cat idly spinning a ball of yarn.

After listening, without looking up, he simply paused his fingertips and softly uttered two words:
"Don't go."

(End of this chapter)