Chapter 353

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Chapter 353: "Watching the Tides"

In the southeast, there is a beautiful place called Sanwu, which has always been a bustling city since ancient times. There, Qiantang has flourished for many years. The scenery is like a painting with smoky willows and picturesque bridges. The gentle breeze sweeps green curtains, and there are countless homes scattered all around.

This place is called Qiantang, it is rich and magnificent. The words of Liu Yong perfectly describe the beauty of the Jiangnan region.

During the Song Dynasty, trade flourished, the economy thrived, and people enjoyed abundant and delicious food, as well as quality clothing. When it comes to the standard of living and the richness of resources, perhaps it was the most prosperous era in history.

During its peak, the population reached one hundred and twenty-two million 122,000,000 people. The country was governed by literati, which led to the dissemination of literary style and the fame of talented individuals spreading far and wide.

During the flourishing Song Dynasty, it was indeed a wonderful era.

And so, the story begins with a young scholar from the Jiangnan region.

In the fourth month of Qiántáng, gentle spring rain falls.

The young scholar walked along the ancient path, holding an umbrella. He carried a green umbrella and wore the robe of a scholar. With short hair, he walked lightly and swiftly across the stone bridge.

These kinds of stone bridges are everywhere in Qiántáng. When it rains, the water flows down the grooves and crevices of the stones, quickly gathering into a stream.

In his hand, he carried another umbrella. He deliberately stopped walking and looked ahead to see someone getting wet in the rain. A faint smile of amusement appeared on his face.

After trembling for a while, the person ahead seemed to have noticed the scholar standing at the other end of the bridge. Immediately, they started running towards him.

On the way, accidentally bumped into someone’s shoulder.

"Sorry, sorry," the young man said hastily, full of clumsiness, as he apologized.

"It’s okay," the voice belonged to a woman.

The young man walked forward clumsily when suddenly he noticed a hairpin falling onto the ground, made of gold and shimmering brightly.

He hurriedly bent down to pick up the hairpin, then chased after her and asked, "Miss, is this your dropped golden hairpin?"

The clumsy young man shielded the rain with one hand, narrowing his eyes in the fine drizzle.

Upon hearing these words, the first to turn around was a young maid dressed in green. She glanced at the hairpin and then smiled gently, saying, "Oh my, it is indeed a hairpin. Miss, please quickly turn around and take a look."

The woman in white also turned around under the umbrella, revealing a stunningly beautiful face that could rival the moon and flowers. She glanced at the hairpin and there was a smile in her eyes. She said, "Thank you, sir… for your honesty in picking up and returning the golden hairpin. I am grateful."

The young man was captivated by the appearance of the young lady, his heart pounding in his chest. He nervously rubbed his hands together, unsure of where to place them, and his face turned red. "Um…," he stammered.

In that moment, he found himself at a loss for words and unsure of what to say. He started searching for a topic of conversation and said, "Miss, you have a familiar face. Are you also from Qiantang?"

After a brief conversation, he returned the golden hairpin, and the other person smiled and left gracefully.

Meanwhile, the young man remained rooted to the spot, unable to come back to his senses.

"Hello!"

A voice startled him, and as he turned around, he saw a familiar friend.

The scholar raised his hand and placed it in front of his chin, wearing a serious expression.

"What are you doing?"

"I’m afraid that if you look closely, it might give it away."

"…"

"Xu Xian, oh Xu Xian, if you fancy her, go after her! Ask someone where she lives, and another day, I’ll bring the matchmaker to propose."

"Stop… stop fooling around!" Xu Xian’s face turned red. "We’ve only just met, why are you talking about liking each other?"

"Isn’t it love? It’s just craving someone’s body and appearance, you despicable scoundrel," the scholar burst into laughter.

"Graceful lady, the gentleman likes you, me…"

"Mmm, it seems like we have a good connection. You’ve reached this age too," the scholar showed a knowing expression.

Xu Xian blushed with annoyance and said, "Mr. Bai, why aren’t you studying properly? What brings you here?"

"Of course, I came to witness this extraordinary scene," Bai Wei chuckled and said, "I must preserve this memory."

"What a mess."

"I brought you an umbrella, but ended up running ahead of you," Bai Wei handed over an umbrella and continued to inquire, "How does it feel?"

"What does it feel like, meeting for the first time, perhaps never having the chance to meet again in the future."

"Now, will we still be able to catch up?" reminded Bai Wei.

"Not going!" Xu Xian said firmly, and then he took big strides, walking away on his own, his stubborn nature evident on his thin face.

Bai Wei shrugged his shoulders, slowly strolling behind, this being his sixty-second time of reincarnation.

In the sixtieth era and the sixty-first era, both were worlds of swift passage.

"The Life of a Treacherous Minister"… He didn’t want to be a treacherous minister, so he jumped into a well and ended his own life.

"The Life of an Assassin"… At the age of ten, he accidentally killed himself while playing with a sword. He bled too much and died.

And then came the sixty-second era… "The Life of a Scholar."

In this world, Bai Wei obtained two magical items. One was named "Invincible Against Illnesses," and the other was called "Understanding Beyond Boundaries."

Don’t underestimate these seemingly simple descriptions; they are all genuine grade A enhancements. A-grade, you know what that means? Even Azure Lane Ship Girls have only one A-grade!

The former signifies tremendous physical strength, while the latter signifies exceptional muscle memory and learning capabilities.

He also discovered that he had entered a rather intriguing world, where he didn’t grow up from being a baby, but instead regained his memories from when he was ten years old.

This time, there were no childhood friends.

This time, there were no childhood friends.

This time, there were no childhood friends.

He grew up in Qiantang when he was ten years old, then at the age of fifteen, he set out to wander in the rivers and lakes. At sixteen, he went to Kaifeng, and at eighteen, he returned to Qiantang.

Xu Xian was his childhood friend, and now he works as an apprentice at a pharmacy.

Upon hearing the name Xu Xian and learning about his family background, Bai Wei instantly perked up. It was no other than the renowned literary masterpiece "The Legend of the White Snake". Unfortunately, Xu Xian didn’t possess the same striking looks as Ye Tong, but he was fair and clean, which made him a suitable candidate for cross-dressing.

During his adventurous journey, Bai Wei went to Kaifeng because it was the capital of the Song Dynasty, also known as Dongjing. It was considered the eastern capital, while Jinling City represented Nanjing, Yanjing referred to Beijing, and Chang’an stood for Xijing, thus forming the four capital cities in the east, west, south, and north.

He went to Kaifeng, of course, to take the imperial examination. The Han Dynasty used a system called "Chaju" to select officials, while the Wei and Jin Dynasties used the "Jiupin Zhongzheng" system. The Tang Dynasty gradually established its own system, and it was not until the Song Dynasty that a relatively fair imperial examination system was established, which could effectively select talented individuals.

In the end, he indeed passed the examination and secured the third position in the imperial examination, but he didn’t become the top scorer.

Because he refused to kneel before the emperor during the palace examination and recited a few lines of poetry with great enthusiasm, the emperor was greatly impressed. He rewarded him with a decree stating, "Those who don’t kneel before the emperor will never be employed." From that moment on, he could no longer become an official. The emperor was this way, narrow-minded.

Bai Wei didn’t hesitate either. He never kneeled before the emperor from beginning to end. Turning around, he left the imperial court. Even though the situation had completely deteriorated, Zhao Zhen still wanted to save face for himself. So, he publicly praised Bai Wei and granted him the title of a distinguished scholar.

Bai Wei also became famous. His reputation spread throughout Kaifeng and gradually reached Qiantang. It took a couple of years for things to calm down.

The reputation of being unable to become an official didn’t have much impact on him. He wasn’t like Li Sanbian, who was specifically appointed to compose poems, and at least Li Yong’s reputation allowed him to enjoy various pleasures in brothels.

His journey as a distinguished scholar came to an end, unable to thrive in the officialdom. He could only receive scornful mockery, highlighting his unwavering spirit as a resolute literati.

So, Bai Wei, wearing the robe of a scholar, ventured into the world with his title as a distinguished scholar.

In the past few years, he spent his time practicing calligraphy. Little did he know, through that practice, he developed a set of swordsmanship. As he diligently swept the floors, he unknowingly mastered the techniques of staff fighting. Drawing connections and feeling confident in himself, he set out on a journey through the world. By sheer accident, he ended up making a name for himself.

At this moment, Bai Wei slowly realized that this world seemed to be stitched together. Not only was Xu Xian present, but it was also during the Song Dynasty. Therefore, the famous novel "Three Heroes and Five Gallants" should naturally exist, with the Southern hero Zhan Zhao and the Northern hero Ouyang Chun. Bai Wei had seen them all, and he had even visited Kaifeng Prefecture several times. He felt that familiar feeling, as if he had returned home.

Among them, the very famous "The Tale of the Black Basin," Bai Wei also had the opportunity to participate in. He had a small role as an NPC playing Judge Bao, interrogating the criminals. However, it seemed that at this stage, he hadn’t reached the part where Chen Shimei was exposed. Considering the timing, he returned to Qiantang to witness the memorable scenes once again.

The union of Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen was a destined fact. The man had affection, and the woman had intentions. Though they were of different species, there was an undeniable natural bond between them. There was truly no reason to oppose their love. Whoever dared to stand against it, beware of the consequences, for under the deadly blade of Bai Suzhen, no one would be spared!

Overall, Bai Wei lived a fairly carefree life. He was born into a wealthy family as the youngest child, never having to worry about food and clothing. Each month, he eagerly awaited his share of the family fortune. The Song Dynasty was prosperous, offering various ways to make money. Bai Wei casually invested and thrived in the bustling marketplace. His body remained healthy, immune to illnesses, and he even possessed martial arts skills. He could live at least as long as Zhang Zhenren. Currently, his greatest pursuit was finding a wife and enjoying various famous scenes. In this world, even Judge Bao had descended as the star of literature. After all, Lady Bai herself had come, and there might even be immortals from the South Pole and the Heavenly Court.

Bai Wei continued his carefree life and had no intention of practicing cultivation to live for many years. As a side note, in order to resolve Xu Xian’s problem, he occasionally took him to Golden Mount Temple to burn incense and pay respects to the Buddha. They would chat with Fa Hai about life, Buddhism, and everything in between. As they became more familiar with each other, they would jokingly challenge the venerable monk’s mighty power and prowess.

He happily pondered about all the things that would happen in the future, causing a smile to naturally appear on his lips. As he walked across the stone bridge, holding an umbrella, he suddenly heard a crisp sound.

He lowered his head and looked down, only to find a fox-shaped jade pendant lying at his feet. He bent down to pick it up, and when he turned around, he saw a woman walking a few steps away, holding an umbrella.

As the young man called out, "Miss, wait a moment…", he had not yet realized that he had become the protagonist of the previous scene.

She turned her head in response to the voice and saw a face as beautiful as Bai Suzhen’s, with a captivating and gentle expression. The young girl looked at the jade pendant and smiled sweetly, saying, "Thank you, kind sir."