Longevity Begins With Zongmen Handyman

Chapter 101: Patient Angler

Li An sat in the teahouse, diligently reading several books while sipping on two pots of tea. He continued reading until the closing time of the teahouse, then stretched lazily and left, leaving a piece of spirit stone on the table as a tip.

From that day on, he would visit the teahouse every few days to sit and read books for the entire day.

The reason Li An did this was mainly because, based on his repeated observations, this Yun Dao Teahouse was the place where Song Mingzhang liked to stay the most!

However, he didn't rush to approach the other party, but silently read books and drank tea.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

"Mr. Zuo, what kind of books are these? I see you reading them every day, aren't you tired?"

On this day, Li An went to the teahouse again, and the waiter led him to his familiar corner and curiously asked.

Li An and the waiter had already become acquainted. They knew that although Li An was a Foundation Building cultivator, he had an easygoing and approachable personality, so they dared to have a few conversations with him.

And Li An's alias in the city was "Zuo Wen".

"These are all miscellaneous books," Li An smiled slightly, "astronomy, geography, snakes, insects, birds, beasts, strange stories, legendary travelogues... I read everything."

The waiter was surprised, "I also love reading these things, especially strange stories! I didn't expect you to love them too..."

"Of course, come, come, come, I'll give you this book 'Northern Travelogue'. It contains many strange and extraordinary things that happened in the northern border of Da Li. Hahaha."

As he spoke, he handed the waiter a book. The waiter hurriedly said, "Mr. Zuo, I dare not accept it..."

"If I give it to you, just take it. It's not something precious. I bought it for ten spirit stones. Consider it a souvenir. If you feel it's inappropriate, you can return it to me after reading it."

Upon hearing this, the waiter quickly wiped his hands and respectfully accepted it from Li An.

"Thank you, Mr. Zuo, thank you, Mr. Zuo!"

"Mr. Zuo, please wait a moment, I will serve you tea right away!"

The waiter then left.

Li An continued reading.

In this year, he practiced cultivation while continuously reading books.

Although reading was an effort to enter the Treasure Pavilion, he gained a lot from reading a large number of books. Even in his previous life, he didn't have the mindset to seriously read books.

"Xiao Chen, what did the guest give you?"

As Xiao Chen walked into the back hall, a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar had already spoken.

This person was the teahouse owner, Cai Chao.

The waiter quickly took out the book and handed it to Cai Chao.

Cai Chao opened it and saw that the thin book was filled with densely packed notes.

"In the fifth year of Emperor Da Li, a strange snake rose from Qinghe County, spewing flames that could burn dozens of miles, causing great harm..."

This was the content of the book, and the notes next to it said:

"The 'Qinghe County Annals' records that there are many fire mines in the county, and the 'Mineral Summary' states that fire mines can contain fire essence. Therefore, it is necessary for the strange snake to hatch from the fire mine, indicating that it possesses the ability of the Fire Dao..."

This was just one example.

Cai Chao couldn't help but be amazed.

There were many people who liked to read these miscellaneous books, but this guest was so knowledgeable that he could analyze the situation from a simple record...

This Zuo Wen was not simple.

"A Foundation Building cultivator is actually interested in these things..."

Cai Chao was puzzled, but immediately returned the book to the waiter, "Learn from this gentleman more. The cultivation novels you usually read are useless."

"Serve 'Bihu Spring' to this gentleman later."

"Okay!"

On his way out that day, Li An said to the waiter, "Xiao Chen, I have something to say. Please relay it to your boss."

Xiao Chen said, "Mr. Zuo, please speak."

Li An tapped the table and said, "This spirit patterned wooden table, your master probably bought the wrong one."

He smiled and said, "Goodbye."

...

The next day.

When Li An arrived again, the boss, Cai Chao, personally served him tea.

"Mr. Zuo!"

Cai Chao was very polite and said, "I am Cai Chao, the owner here. I wonder what is wrong with this spirit patterned wooden table?"

Li An said, "So it's Mr. Cai!"

He hesitated for a moment and said, "This wooden table is actually not made of spirit patterned wood, but curved patterned wood."

Cai Chao was shocked. Spirit patterned wood was very precious. The tables and chairs in his teahouse alone cost thousands of spirit stones!

He was going for a high-end route.

But curved patterned wood was very cheap.

Did he actually get deceived?

"The two types of wood are almost identical, the only difference is the level of spiritual energy. If you want to use curved patterned wood to pass as spirit patterned wood, you just need to nurture it in a Spirit Gathering array for a period of time, so that the curved patterned wood becomes filled with spiritual energy. In this way, it can be convincingly fake."

"But the spiritual energy of curved patterned wood dissipates quickly, far less enduring than spirit patterned wood, even if it is used for fifty years. If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Cai, you purchased these tables and chairs three years ago, right?..."

Li An explained with a smile.

Cai Chao suddenly realized, "Mr. Zuo's words are absolutely correct... Thank you for enlightening me, thank you, Mr. Zuo!"

At the same time, a flash of anger passed through his eyes. How dare someone deceive him.

No wonder these tables and chairs looked a bit worn out after just a few years!

"Mr. Cai, please don't let anyone know about this matter. It was Mr. Zuo who told you... I just want to focus on my studies."

Li An smiled.

"Mr. Cai understands!"

Cai Chao had someone serve Li An the best Biluochun tea, then hurriedly left.

...

After that day, Li An didn't go to the teahouse for several days.

But on the third day.

In front of the Yundao Teahouse, a luxurious carriage stopped, and an old man in a white robe slowly got off and walked into the teahouse.

"Master Song, you've arrived. Please come inside quickly!"

The waiter greeted him warmly.

"Hmm? Why did you suddenly change these tables and chairs?"

As soon as Song Mingzhang entered the teahouse, he noticed the changes.

"Inform Master Song, I was deceived..."

Cai Chao came out to greet him and said, "The previous tables and chairs were made of curved patterned wood. They have been here for so long... It's really embarrassing!"

Upon hearing this, Song Mingzhang burst into laughter, patted Cai Chao on the shoulder, and said, "You finally realized it."

"When you bought them three years ago, I had already noticed, but at that time, the curved patterned wood hadn't lost its spiritual energy yet, and it wasn't much different from spirit patterned wood. So I thought it would be fine for you to use them for a few more years. I didn't expect you to discover it yourself."

Cai Chao said, "It wasn't me who discovered it, it was a Fellow Daoist who informed me..."

"Oh? Fellow Daoist? Do you have a friend who is in the timber business?"

"Not really, this Fellow Daoist is not a timber merchant, but someone who loves reading..."

He immediately explained the cause and effect.

Song Mingzhang was astonished.

The difference between curved patterned wood and spirit patterned wood could only be noticed by someone who had been in the timber business for decades.

Song Mingzhang was able to understand because he had extensive knowledge and the ability to appraise treasures.

But now, even an unknown figure has such discerning eyes.

It's quite rare.

"Where is this person?" he asked.

"Fellow Daoist Zuo hasn't been here for a few days. Master Song, are you still drinking 'Tianyang Chen' today?"

"Yes."

Cai Chao immediately went to make tea.

...

After seven or eight days, Li An finally came to the teahouse.

Cai Chao was bored inside the building, so he came out to talk to Li An. After this incident, their relationship suddenly became closer.

Cai Chao mentioned Song Mingzhang, and Li An was pleasantly surprised, "You know Master Song?"

"That's great... Brother Cai, can you do me a favor?"

"Please tell me, Brother Zuo," Cai Chao said.

"I want to buy two books from Master Song. He must have them."

Cai Chao's eyebrows slightly furrowed imperceptibly. Zuo Wen wanted him to help buy books?

Because Song Mingzhang often came to the teahouse, many people who had requests for him would also come here. He had seen it all!

Could it be that Zuo Wen came to the teahouse just to get close to Song Mingzhang?

But that shouldn't be... after all, Zuo Wen had been here for over a year.

When someone wants to get something done, who would wait so long?

"I don't know what books Brother Zuo wants to buy?" he asked.

"One copy of 'The Art of Debating Dan' and one copy of 'The Art of Identifying Herbs.' I've searched all over Tianyang City and couldn't find them. After thinking it over, perhaps only a master like Master Song might have rare copies..."

"If this master is unwilling to sell, I'm willing to borrow them!" Li An said.

Cai Chao nodded, "Alright, I'll give it a try."

...

After a few days, when Song Mingzhang came to drink tea, Cai Chao mentioned the matter.

Song Mingzhang fell into deep thought.

As an appraiser, many people approached him, including those who wanted to use the guise of "loving books" to study and get close to him.

"Never mind, Brother Cai, you rarely do things for others. I can't refuse your face. I'll lend him the two books for a month, and he doesn't need to give me any spirit stones."

"Heh, the knowledge in these two books is not something ordinary people can understand!"

...

After a while, Li An went to the teahouse, and Cai Chao immediately approached him with a smile, "Brother Zuo, it's time for you to treat me to a drink!"

As he spoke, he took out two books, which turned out to be "The Art of Debating Dan" and "The Art of Identifying Herbs."

"According to Master Song, these two books are already out of print, and only a few appraisers at the Treasure Pavilion have them. You've found the right person!"

"He said he'll lend them to you for a month."

Li An was overjoyed and said, "Rest assured, Brother Cai, I won't need a month. Ten days... no, three days. Zuo Wen only needs three days!"

...

After returning home, Li An neglected sleep and food.

Three days later, he indeed returned the books.

...

When Cai Chao returned the books to Song Mingzhang, he was quite surprised. Li An only read them for three days?

He flipped through the pages and found that the bookmarks he had left were still intact, and there were hardly any signs of the pages being turned.

"Avid reader?"

He couldn't help but smile, recalling Cai Chao's evaluation of this person.

It seems that, just as he thought, he was just playing tricks to get close to me?

After reading the book, he realized the difficulty and gave up?

He shook his head and didn't bother anymore.

Seeing Song Mingzhang's smile, Cai Chao suddenly realized that he had guessed right. Li An was indeed deliberately getting close...

After that, Cai Chao's attitude towards Li An suddenly became cold, especially when he learned about this, he couldn't help but sneer when Li An enthusiastically inquired about Song Mingzhang's situation from Xiao Chen.

But Li An still went to drink tea and read books as usual, unaffected by Cai Chao's change in attitude.

In fact, he had already found out everything about Song Mingzhang.

But he wouldn't be in a hurry. Now the other party clearly regarded him as someone who was just trying to climb up like everyone else.

Patience was needed to distinguish himself from others!

...

In this way, four years passed!

On this day, Li An still drank tea, but asked Xiao Chen to invite Cai Chao to meet him.

When Cai Chao heard Xiao Chen's report, he was still stunned. In these years, he had completely stopped caring about Zuo Wen and almost forgotten about this person.

Four years ago, this guy seemed to have played tricks to get close to Song Mingzhang...

In the blink of an eye, Zuo Wen had been studying in the teahouse for five years??

He suddenly had some doubts, did he guess wrong back then?

He had seen too many people who wanted to get close to Song Mingzhang, but who could persist for five years?

Moreover, in these five years, Li An had not had any further contact with Song Mingzhang except for borrowing two books back then.

He pondered for a moment and immediately walked out:

"I don't know why Fellow Daoist Zuo is calling me, what can I do for you?"

He smiled warmly.

Li An said, "I would like to ask Fellow Daoist Cai for a favor."

"Fellow Daoist, please speak."

Li An said confidently, "Four years ago, Master Song gave me a book as a gift. I heard that Master Song's granddaughter is suffering from a 'Yin Decay' illness. Recently, I have gained some insights from my studies and may have a solution that could be helpful to Master Song's granddaughter."

He took out a packet of medicinal herbs and handed it to Cai Chao, "These are the herbs I prepared. In addition, this is the origin of the prescription. Please present it to Master Song as well."

"I am extremely grateful, Fellow Daoist Zuo."

Cai Chao was taken aback, treating Master Song's granddaughter's illness?

Master Song was an expert in appraising treasures. Over the years, how many experts had he invited, but none of them were able to cure his granddaughter, Song Anning. And now Li An claimed he could?

"Fellow Daoist Zuo, why don't you give it to Master Song yourself?" he asked.

Li An smiled, "Master Song is of high status, while I am just a poor cultivator. I feel ashamed and dirty. I only wish to repay his kindness and not bother him."

Cai Chao said, "Alright, I will pass it on to Master Song on your behalf."

After exchanging pleasantries, Li An left.

...

Shortly after, Song Mingzhang came to the teahouse, and Cai Chao presented Li An's things to him.

"Master Song, there's a joke I want to tell you..."

"Do you remember Zuo Wen from four years ago?"

"He actually said a few days ago that he came up with a prescription that can cure Miss Anning's illness. It's truly a laughable matter..."

Song Mingzhang picked up the medicinal herbs and carefully examined them. Then he picked up the prescription written by Li An and looked at the beautiful and neat handwriting. He couldn't help but be stunned.

"A joke?"

"How is this a joke... this is something that can save my granddaughter's life!"

He suddenly stood up, grabbed Cai Chao, and asked, "Where is this Zuo Wen??"

...

(End of this chapter)