Chen Ergou waited for three days, but Chen Yuanshu didn't give him any news. Just when Chen Ergou thought it was all over, life gave him a sudden turn of events, so sudden that even onlookers like Wang Hu and Wang Jiefang were left stunned. At the time, Chen Ergou and his gang had just finished eating dinner cooked by Zhang Sanqian, who then pulled out Chen Ergou's self-composed "Breaking Formation" tune.

  Chen Ergou closed his eyes and was completely immersed in the elegant music of the erhu, without noticing that two people were standing at the open door, Chen Yuanshu and a man who looked to be around sixty years old, with white hair but a youthful face, and upon closer inspection, seemed to have an air of elegance and refinement.

  Chen Yuanshu originally wanted to call out Chen Ergou, indicating that a guest had arrived. The old man shook his head and waited quietly for Zhang Sanqian to finish playing "Po Zhenzi". Only then did he enter the room, not hurrying to greet anyone, but instead looking around the room, finally focusing on an old pipe hanging on the wall and a couplet of grass script near the tobacco holder. He silently recited it once: "This heart is dragging mud and water, it's the most bitter place in life". The old man stared at the wall, unsure whether he was looking at the pipe or the couplet, lost in thought for a moment.

  Chen Ergou finally saw the two noble guests, and his feeling was that they were radiant with an aura of wealth. Chen Yuanshu was obviously different from Wei Duan Gong, who had struggled step by step to rise up in Yunfu, Guangdong. She didn't have much good impression of this humble abode that couldn't even be called a home, but she didn't despise it either. Standing beside the old man, she quietly made a gesture to Chen Ergou to keep silent.

  "Floating life, Chen Fusheng, can be interpreted as floating with life, and it can also be said that 'why ask more, just this floating life'. Of course, there is still the phrase 'floating life half-day leisure', which is a fitting name." The old man finally withdrew his gaze, smiling at Chen Ergou. His temperament was different from Wei Duan Gong's. Although both were not lacking in the composure of those in high positions, Wei Duan Gong exuded worldly wisdom everywhere, while the old man gave off an otherworldly air despite being in the mundane world. When Wei Duan Gong stood with Chen Yuanshu, Wei Duan Gong was slightly more impressive in terms of aura. When Chen Yuanshu stood beside the old man, he seemed to have a humble and unassuming quality, like a grain of rice not daring to compete with the sun and moon for radiance.

  What a big shot! What a big shot! He's really something, this is Chen Ergou's first impression, especially the high mountain that makes one gasp in admiration.

  Zhang San glanced at the two uninvited guests, curled his lip, and lowered his head to play the erhu.

  Here is the translation:

  "Let me introduce myself, my surname is Zhuge and my name is Qingming. Although it sounds like I'm related to Zhuge Liang, I don't have any connection with him at all. I'm not the kind of person who would recklessly try to find a famous ancestor for myself, claiming to be the descendant of Zhu Yuanzhang or Zhang Daoling. Those are just empty claims. The blessings of ancestors fade away after four generations, let alone ten or more. It's just people trying to flatter themselves, shameless and embarrassing.

  As soon as I said 'shameless', the old man burst into laughter. Chen Er Gou didn't understand what the old man was talking about, not only because he wasn't familiar with him but also because he couldn't keep up with his train of thought. Even Chen Yuan Shu looked puzzled and didn't know how to respond, feeling a bit awkward. The old man didn't mind the silence and took another look at Chen Er Gou from head to toe, observing him without any reserve, as if he had nothing to hide. This was quite different from Wei Duan Gong's style, and actually, it was also quite different from the societal norm of looking down on people behind their backs."

  "That kid plays the erhu pretty well, but it's not suitable for that song. It's a bit small, and his experience is limited, so he can't bring out the flavor. You might play it better, Floating Life." Old Zhuge said this as Zhang Sanqian looked up at him with a cold glance, but the old man just chuckled and didn't take it to heart. He pointed to the wall and asked, "Did you write those characters?"

  Chen Yuanshu never had the chance to speak, Chen Ergou's heart was uneasy, "Being in summer, like being on the edge of a deep abyss" roughly describes his current mood, he can only take it one step at a time. He nodded and said respectfully: "Yes."

  "Not bad, no seven or eight years of effort, can't write those words, this still needs a premise that the understanding is sufficient. Chen Yushu, at least in this life you won't be able to do it." The old man spoke very directly, seemingly without considering Chen Yushu's feelings, apparently wanting to surpass Meng Donghai by several levels. That young man named Lu Jiuli who sat for a while at the 21st club, although with a proud face, still gave Chen Yushu some face from start to finish. Several comparisons made Chen Ergou even more nervous and dare not speak recklessly.

  "Master Zhuge, please don't embarrass me anymore, okay? Let me have some dignity as an elder in front of others." Chen Yuanshu, who had calmly accepted Lu Jiuli's address of "Aunt Chen", was like a naive child in front of the old man, only able to humbly accept criticism, and also threw in a bit of natural, unpretentious coquetry, just like a young girl showing respect when interacting with her grandfather's generation.

  "Alright, I won't mention you, let's just leave some face for you." The old man chuckled and his smile was slightly restrained. Obviously, when it came to Chen Yuanshu, he didn't behave as unscrupulously as he did with Zhang Sanqian and Chen Fusheng. In his eyes, no matter how good Chen Yuanshu's roots were, she was still a woman who had been tossed around in the dye vat for over a decade, and couldn't escape being common. She wasn't someone to be despised, but her spiritual energy had long been worn away. Moreover, the old man had never had much of a good impression of women throughout his life. The reason he chose to get close to Chen Yuanshu's granddaughter after arriving in Nanjing was that Wei Dangong was no longer around, and secondly, there was some connection with the Chen family. Thirdly, it was because she was the only person related to Chen Fusheng in Nanjing.

  Chen Ergou was at a loss in his anxiety and apprehension.

  The old man didn't stand on ceremony, directly sitting down on the small stool, gesturing for Chen Yuanshu and Chen Ergou to sit down as well. He smiled and said: "Fusheng, don't be nervous. Three days ago, I made an appointment with you at the 21st Club, but due to some matters that I couldn't get out of, I didn't go. Today, I came to Shanshui Huamen to find you, which is a way of showing my sincerity, so you won't think I'm relying on my age and being arrogant in the future.

  I came here for three reasons: first, I wanted to take a look at Ah Dun's adopted son, to see if he was indeed as Ah Dun said, with his ancestors' virtues shining brightly. After taking a look, what you said is true. Second, I wanted to meet Banger Wang Hu, because about four years ago, he had handled a Tang Sancai Tianwang Niumu Jingang Shengxiang at a tomb in Luoyang, Henan. It's not that I must have it for myself, but rather there are some things I want to verify and confirm, and that thing is indispensable. I wanted to ask him where it ended up in the end, if he would break his rules and tell me.

  Lastly, which was also my main purpose, I came to take a look at this young man who can wield a spear, raise a mountain dog, write good calligraphy, and sing Peking Opera with a voice that moves people's hearts. Fusheng, Ah Dun has not talked about a young person like this for almost ten years, and he insisted that I meet you in person. The last young person was... who was it again? As one gets older, their brain doesn't work as well, let me think for a moment... Ah yes, it was Zhang Xiaoqian, whom northerners call Zhang Xiaohua."

  Chen Yuanshu's expression changed.

  She obviously didn't expect Lao Ren's Chen Er Gou to be so exceptional.

  Although Mr. Zhuge was only sitting on a small stool, he seemed to Chen Ergou to be even more unapproachable than those high-ranking leaders who sat upright and dignified on TV. The old man gazed at Chen Ergou, patted his shoulder, and said: "There are many people in the world who are blind with their eyes open, and there is no shortage of petty people who look down on others. As an old man who has lived for over 90 years, even if my eyes are blind, I can still see that you are different."

  Over ninety years old?

  Chen Er Gou was stunned.

  Chen Yuanshu was also stunned, and once again thought of the sentence written by Chen Ergou in his complicated mood at the hotel: In my heart there is a fierce tiger, sniffing roses carefully.

  Looking at Chen Ergou again, Chen Yuanshu was dazed for a moment, and suddenly, that warm and gentle face, which had never been sharp or fierce, seemed to burst out with a demonic aura.

  "I'm just a farmer." Chen Ergou said with a bitter smile.

  Zhuge Old Man burst out laughing and said, "Farmers are nothing, heroes often emerge from humble origins. I won't praise you too much, just take it one step at a time, and when you've gone far and climbed high, think back on this old man's words. If what I say comes true, come back and offer me a cup of tea or a jug of old wine. If I don't live to see that day and die with my eyes open, you can still visit my grave at Qingming Festival and say a few words, so I won't be lonely. In the first half of my life, I've committed many sins and revealed many heavenly secrets, but I have no sons or daughters, so I'm counting on Ah-Dan and you to raise these five or six children and remember me."