Chapter 14 (1/2)
Translated by Crystal of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Back in Da Yan, Lin ShuYi often went fishing, not because he liked it but because his teacher, the Chancellor loved it. His teacher often said that fishing was meditation and self-cultivation. If your mind couldn’t calm down, then go fishing. Once the fish takes the bait, your feelings would have calmed down.
Lin ShuYi tried it before, but he never got to that level, not in that life time. If he could follow the trend, then he wouldn’t have died such a terrible death.
His teacher had once told him that one should seek self-improvement during difficult times and seek to benefit others during successful times (Said by MengZi). Too bad he couldn’t benefit others, or improve himself. In his death, he never thought about how sad it would’ve made his teacher.
Even though he was alive, his teacher would never know. As he thought about it, Lin ShuYi suddenly opened his eyes.
Shen Fu was startled.
Seeing his face an inch away, Lin ShuYi’s face also darkened. “What are you doing?”
Shen Fu rolled his eyes and reached his hand to over to Lin ShuYi’s seatbelt. Then he said, “In the short span of time I asked you to put the stuff away, you somehow fell asleep in the car. You didn’t even wear your seatbelt, what do you think I’m doing?”
His long, well-defined, fingers fastened the seatbelt and with a click, Lin ShuYi found himself immobile. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Shen Fu doing the same. Then he shut his mouth, by the looks of things, it was something necessary.
Lin ShuYi had only ever taken the bus before, it was his first time in a car.
Old man Yang said that the fishing place was a bit far and needed multiple transfers if they were to take the bus. After hearing that, Shen Fu got this car. It wasn’t new and Shen Fu said he borrowed it from a friend, but Lin ShuYi never asked further.
Old man Yang was actually curious about the fact that he could drive. After being asked, Shen Fu pulled out a driver’s license from his wallet and said, “I knew how a long time ago.”
Lin ShuYi didn’t pay much attention to the license, instead, he focused on the photo beside it. It was a bit blurry and before he could get a clear view, Shen Fu put the wallet back into his pocket.
Lin ShuYi was till confused, when he changed clothes for Shen Fu, he hadn’t seen a wallet.
“Hey, are you still there, did you bring everything grandpa told you to bring? What were you dozing off to?”
Lin ShuYi regained his senses and nodded.
Shen Fu turned around and said something to old man Yang before he got into the car.
“I really didn’t think Xiao Fu would know how to drive. Now it’s much more convenient.”
Shen Fu smiled, “Grandpa, sit tight, fasten your seatbelt, we’re ready to get going.”
Once old man Yang fastened his seatbelt, then the three drove off.
Shen Fu didn’t know the way either, but they had a GPS so Shen Fu input the address that old man Yang told him. During the whole drive, Lin ShuYi kept staring at the GPS and Shen Fu couldn’t understand why.
“Do you want to learn how to drive?” Shen Fu asked.
“Huh?”
“If you want to learn, I can teach you.”
Lin ShuYi replied unenthusiastically, “Why would I learn that?”
Shen Fu didn’t know whether to be annoyed or laugh. If you didn’t want to learn, then why are you staring at it so intently? He replied, “Once you learn how to drive, you can go out. If you want to eat something, you don’t have to worry about public transports and taxi’s aren’t convenient.”
Lin ShuYi’s eyes brightened, “I’ll learn it.”
“…….” Shen Fu felt like he found Lin ShuYi’s Achilles’ heel.
Once they arrived and Shen Fu got out of the car, he felt that this was truly a good place.
It was rural and quiet but with a great scenery.
Old man Yang got off the backseat of the car with a smile. Standing beside Shen Fu, he said, “How is it? It’s a good place, right? This is a place that only people who live near here know about.”
In front of them was a clear lake, but not a stagnant one. Ripples came and went, glistening under the sun. Beside it, willow trees created a perfect shade and there was a huge empty area for their tent. They could have a meal here, not to mention fish.
“Yes, it’s beautiful.”
However, Shen Fu wasn’t the one who said this. Shen Fu turned around to see Lin ShuYi just getting out of the car, his hand rested on his brow and his lips slightly curved, as if he remembered something funny.
Shen Fu crossed his arms in front his chest and, for a moment, wondered why this kid looked so nice. Almost nicer than he was.
Just as the two were focused on their own thoughts, old man Yang had already walked over to the car, prepared to unpack.
They had originally planned for a fishing trip, but after Shen Fu heard of the scenery and open space, he brought along a tent and camping equipment. They might as well eat out as well.