Chapter 296
One autumn after another.
Some people meet again, and some never meet again.
Dragging this half-crippled body, Chen An somehow survived for another three years.
This was already the sixth year since Luo Cong’an departed.
It was funny, Chen An didn’t know what he was holding onto.
Everything was predetermined, and he had long prepared himself mentally, telling himself not to get too invested in the role.
But when the day finally came, Chen An couldn’t help but have some expectations.
One evening, he suddenly had a premonition and asked someone to deliver a message to City Lord Ma.
He wanted City Lord Ma to do him a favor.
To find a reliable person to take care of his future life.
He was planning ahead.
City Lord Ma didn’t ask too many questions, just did as he was told.
He didn’t know much about Chen An’s current situation, only that he lived a secluded life, presumably due to the great trauma he suffered when he was young, which was why he now only wanted a peaceful life.
City Lord Ma basically obeyed Chen An’s every word. He had occasional contact with Chen An and treated him with great respect.
This was not only because he admired Chen An’s character but also because of Li Ye, who was far away in the Capital.
Li Ye had been thriving in the officialdom these past few years, and news often reached Guanping.
City Lord Ma was a smart man, so naturally, he would not mistreat Chen An.
Thus, a new book boy was added to Chen An’s old and rustic courtyard.
The book boy was about twelve or thirteen years old, with a delicate appearance and a sharp mind, named Xiaoyu.
Chen An was very satisfied with her.
Although Xiaoyu was young, she was diligent and very capable.
With her presence, the courtyard was cleaned spotlessly and became much more lively.
Perhaps she had received news from City Lord Ma, or perhaps she had been given some instructions, but her gaze towards Chen An always carried a hint of curiosity.
Of course, what she was even more curious about was the craftsmanship of this Mister Chen.
Mister Chen usually did nothing else but lie on the bamboo chair and space out, or carve.
He didn’t carve anything else but wood.
And he didn’t carve any other shapes, only a peculiar one.
A large head, no neck, and short limbs.
This was Xiaoyu’s only impression of the wooden carvings Mister Chen made.
But this did not diminish her admiration for Mister Chen.
Because those wooden carvings were indeed exquisite, lifelike, and made anyone who saw them marvel and click their tongues in admiration.
On an ordinary morning.
Xiaoyu got up from the side room and heard Mister Chen’s calm call.
“Coming, Mister!”
Xiaoyu happily got up and walked towards Mister’s room.
What she also liked about being with Mister Chen was that he never restricted her actions and didn’t have the various bad tempers of the masters she had served before.
Mister Chen was undoubtedly a great person.
He was also the gentlest person she had ever met, always making people want to get close to him.
Xiaoyu often thought, if she could serve Mister Chen like this for a lifetime, it didn’t seem like a bad thing?
It could only be said that most people are veritable face-connoisseurs.
Xiaoyu pushed open the door and found Mister Chen leaning against the head of the bed, quietly looking out the window.
He heard the movement and turned his head, a smile appearing on his face.
“Xiaoyu, I might trouble you a bit more from now on.”
Xiaoyu was a little confused but still walked up and said, “Mister, what are you saying? I am here specifically to serve you.”
She scratched her head foolishly and said somewhat sheepishly, “Speaking of which, I haven’t been able to help you with much during this time, and I feel quite bad about it.”
After speaking, Xiaoyu looked up and met the man’s eyes.
There were no strong emotions, just a hint of indescribable emotion.
She heard Mister Chen calmly say, “From now on, I’ll have to use a wheelchair…”
This year, Chen An lost the ability to walk.
…
…
Things eventually came to light.
City Lord Ma learned that Chen An’s legs were disabled and he had become completely crippled.
He expressed great shock and grief, visited him several times, and brought many valuable gifts that Chen An didn’t need at all.
Upon seeing the wooden carvings Chen An had casually placed on his bedside, he was immediately amazed and wanted to ask Chen An to carve a wooden figure of his wife, offering a substantial reward.
Chen An smiled and refused, and City Lord Ma didn’t push further, only lamenting with a sigh.
After some polite pleasantries, City Lord Ma left.
As the lord of a city, he still had many official duties to attend to.
Chen An, in turn, gave all these gifts to Xiaoyu.
In the room, seeing the silks and gifts piled on the ground, Xiaoyu was overwhelmed.
She quickly knelt down, “Mister, I cannot accept this…”
Chen An smiled.
“Of course, they aren’t for you for free. Get up.”
Chen An took out a drawing he had prepared beforehand and pondered, “Help me find a skilled craftsman in the city to make a wheelchair according to this drawing. You can take your wages in advance.”
He pointed to the gifts, “As for these, consider them your reward, alright?”
Xiaoyu looked hesitant.
However, after Chen An’s repeated insistence, she reluctantly agreed.
In July of the same year, Li Ye learned of Chen An’s situation and wrote a letter.
In the letter, Li Ye expressed his sympathy and sorrow for Chen An’s misfortune. He said he would bring his child to visit Chen An next month.
But a month passed, and all Chen An received was another letter.
Li Ye used the excuse of being busy with official duties and unable to get away, with many apologies in his words.
…
…
For the next three years, Chen An used a wheelchair.
He preferred to sit under the large locust tree in the yard and space out.
In spring, he watched the tender green sprouts grow on the thick branches of the locust tree and the weeds growing wildly in the yard.
In summer, he cooled himself under the large shade cast by the locust tree, listening to the chirping of cicadas and birds.
In autumn, he reached out to catch the fallen leaves from the locust tree, feeling the changes as autumn came and went.
Only in winter would Chen An choose to return to the hall and be covered with thick quilts.
The small courtyard was too cold in winter, and sometimes it would be covered with silver frost.
Chen An’s body grew weaker and weaker, unable to withstand the cold.
However, his carving skills had become increasingly refined.
Chen An felt that if the system could display levels, his carving skill would surely be lv99 by now.
In recent years, his carving speed had also gradually slowed down.
From the initial several per day, it now took several days to carve one.
The space in the utility room remained the same, but Chen An’s carving efficiency could be changed at will.
Xiaoyu often accompanied him, sometimes just spacing out with him in the yard, sometimes chatting intermittently.
And if the weather was good, Xiaoyu would push Chen An’s wheelchair for a stroll.
Guanping City was small, and it didn’t take long for them to explore the entire city.
Chen An might have grown accustomed to this peaceful life, but Xiaoyu was clearly a bit listless, often falling asleep out of boredom.
One noon, Xiaoyu, holding a pile of small wooden figures, pushed open the door to the utility room.
After placing the wooden figures, she returned to Chen An’s side.
And casually said, “Mister, they’re almost piled up too high…”
In the hall, Chen An pulled his quilt tighter around himself.
(End of this chapter)
