My Teacher

By Robert Billy

"The old man waited for so many years and finally saw her again. How do you feel?" Lian Ge asked calmly when he looked at the old man.
　　Hearing the words, the old man raised his head and glanced at Lian Ge. After a moment of silence, he turned his gaze and looked far away in the streets."The old man waited for so many years and finally saw her again. How do you feel?" Lian Ge asked calmly when he looked at the old man.
　　Hearing the words, the old man raised his head and glanced at Lian Ge. After a moment of silence, he turned his gaze and looked far away in the streets.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Billy
• Release date: Nov 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9791222020075

Book preview

By the side of the street, the old man leaned on the wheelchair, his hands trembling, but he was holding the picture tightly.

You brought her here, right?

Lifting his head, the old man was struggling, looking at Lian Ge and said,

Glancing at the old man, Lian Ge moved and walked up to the old man, smiling slightly.

The old man waited for so many years and finally saw her again. How do you feel? Lian Ge asked calmly when he looked at the old man.

Hearing the words, the old man raised his head and glanced at Lian Ge. After a moment of silence, he turned his gaze and looked far away in the streets.

"...Before the age of thirty, I thought that she should have not married yet, but due to a blunder, she missed me. When I see her again, I have to pick her up.

Before the age of forty, I thought that when I see her again, I must question her why I haven’t returned to Caishikou for so many years and I have seen...

At the age of sixty, I thought, she should be dead, maybe she had already died on the battlefield in Silla...

Before seeing her again, I thought that when I saw her, I would be very excited... but not. "

The old man looked into the distance, said, and paused.

"...When I saw her, although she was still as before, with her hair neatly combed and her clothes neatly dressed, her hair was already white and the skin under her sleeves was loose. She was already old... …Me too...like the photo studio on that street, like the teahouse, the bean curd vendor walking down the street with a burden...

It turned out that so long has passed. "

With that, the old man fell silent again.

Slowly raising his trembling hand and lowering his head, the old man laboriously took the photo he was holding tightly in front of him, looking at him in a dream.

Lian Ge followed the old man’s sight and glanced at the photo.

The black and white photos have faded a bit, and two figures can barely be seen, a young man in a tunic suit and a girl in a white skirt.

The youth is facing the front, the girl gently pads her feet, tilts her head, and looks at the youth,

"...I think it wasn't her that I waited, maybe it was at the beginning, but later, it's not her.

The old man rubbed the photo lightly and said laboriously.

...I was waiting like a dream. In my dream, there was a girl in a white dress waiting for me at Caishikou. When I was in Silla, when the gunfire was mixed, that was my best thing...

As he spoke, his voice diminished, and the old man slowly lowered his head, and his hand holding the photo gradually dropped.

Next to the wheelchair, the female ghost raised her hand, trying to force the old man to stay again, but then, the female ghost paused again.

Putting down her hand, the female ghost servant just squatted down and picked up the photo that had fallen on the ground again. After looking at it, the female ghost servant put the photo back into the old man's hands.

When the female ghost stood up again, her head hanging down, and the old man leaning on the side of the wheelchair, the soul in her body gradually got out of her body.

After a brief period of confusion, the old man’s eyes reappeared with color,

He lowered his head and glanced at the body leaning on the back of the wheelchair and the photo on his hand. The old man paused slightly.

Looking up, the old man saw it, smiling slightly, looking at his Lian Ge,

Young man, you...

Old friend, do you remember me?

At this moment, the ghost girl standing behind the old man called out softly,

Hearing the sound, the old man slowly turned his head.

Seeing the ghostly female ghost haunting her whole body, the old man's eyes suddenly became a little trance, as if a long time memory had been left.

Remember, remember... why don't you remember, the old man answered, nodding his head.

The female ghost looked at the old man with a smile on her face.

...After so many years, you haven't changed.

Looking at the female ghost, the old man seemed to have returned to the years long ago. After saying a word, he couldn't help falling into silence.

You are now...

Netherworld ghosts.

Hearing the female ghost’s answer, the old man paused, turned his head and looked at the wheelchair, his body, the blood stains on the body and the vague flesh and blood on the top of his head. Although it was hidden by the coat and hat, it was still there.

Before...you helped me...

It's me. The female ghost said with a smile.

Actually, you don't need to... The old man opened his mouth while looking at the female ghost, but couldn't say anything.

no need to thank me……

The female ghost shook her head, lowered her head, and looked at the photo held by the old man’s body.

In the past, that was also the most beautiful thing for me, when on the battlefield, it was completely different,

Smiling, the female ghost said.

Hearing this, the old man was silent and nodded.

Then now, are you here to take me away? The old man looked at the female ghost and asked aloud.

Hearing this, the female ghost did not answer, but turned her gaze to look at Lian Ge.

Upon seeing this, the old man turned his head and cast his gaze at Lian Ge.

Seeing the gazes cast by the two, Lian Ge paused and looked at the female ghost.

Huo Siguo and Gan Huishuang have already met... I wonder if you have waited until you want to wait for something?

Return to the celestial master, I think I have to wait for something, but I have already waited...

While speaking, the female ghost chased a smile on her face, turning her eyes, looking at the quiet streets,

At this moment, a pair of cuddling lovers walked slowly from the side of the street, talking,

Looking at the couple's road, the female ghost smiled and withdrew her gaze.

Looking at this quiet street in the same way, Lian Ge looked at the female ghost and smiled.

You can give the old man one last time. As for your affairs, just leave it to the underworld.

The little ghost thanked the celestial master. The female ghost said to Lian Ge with a bow and respectful voice.

Old friend, let's go. The female ghost turned her head and said with a smile at the old man.

The old man nodded and looked at Lian Ge.

...Boy, thank you.

Nodded, Lian Ge watched the old man and the female ghost disappear from sight, then looked around his body and the old man’s body, and looked at the photo held by the old man.

Withdrawing his gaze, Lian Ge moved away and walked away.

...Old man, old man...

Standing a little far away, the nursing staff who hadn't heard anything for a long time couldn't help but call twice. After hearing no response, they hurried over.

But I only saw the old man with his head hanging down, holding the photo tightly, and the old man who had lost his life.

Buzz...steady.

Walking towards the night, Lian Ge took out his mobile phone from his pocket, connected the phone, and continued walking.

...Lian Ge, what happened to that old man.

Gu Xiaoying's curious voice came from the phone,

He is waiting for someone...

Lian Ge smiled slightly, and briefly talked to Gu Xiaoying.

Accompanied by the sound of words, Lian Ge walked out of the secluded streets again, walked to the lively square, beside the street,

...Then Lian Ge, will the female ghost be severely punished after she goes to the underworld? After listening to Lian Ge's narration, Gu Xiaoying couldn't help but ask.

...Although the law is strict, it is tolerant, but the law is the law after all. Lian Ge replied, looking at the front.

Then, that female ghost can't wait, what exactly is it? Gu Xiaoying answered, and then couldn't help but wonder again.

She waited...

While speaking, Lian Ge raised his head slightly and looked at the bustling city in front of him.

A place where there is no war, no artillery fire, couples do not need to be separated, relatives can reunite, and people can enjoy peace.

...

Dad, I want to eat this... OK, Dad will buy it for you.

Mom, I'm back, I'm already on the road, I will be there soon...

Baby, did you obediently listen to the teacher in the kindergarten today?

...Go, go home.

My wife, the square is so beautiful tonight, let's take a picture...

Chapter 255

Once she was willing to give her life for this kind of beauty, now she is willing to be punished for this kind of beauty.

After another sentence, Lian Ge moved away again.

...Hey, I feel that the old gentleman might as well not see her, at least that way, when he died, he still had hope in his heart, not like now...

On the other side of the phone, Gu Xiaoying's voice rang,

Listening to Gu Xiaoying’s words, Lian Ge had a smile on his face, while listening quietly, while walking through the noisy square,

Although it was night, the square still seemed lively.

Pedestrians, vendors. Parents with children, after dinner, talking about children, daughters and grandchildren, old people walking around, couples leaning against and talking about interesting things in the day...

Voices, shouts, laughter, steps, mixed, noisy,

...The old man waited all his life, but in the end... until that man was already married and had children and grandchildren, he was the only one who waited so long and died lonely.

Listening to Gu Xiaoying's words, Lian Ge moved his steps and walked forward.

Then what do you think it should be?

...At least it shouldn't be like this, I think, the result shouldn't be like this...

With that said, Gu Xiaoying was a little discouraged again, and did not go on.

Hearing this, Lian Ge raised his head slightly, looking at the bustling square and the city with tall buildings in the distance.

...Time has changed, things are different, it's been too long...

Without speaking any more, Lian Ge moved and continued to walk towards the front.

...The old man waited all his life, from his youthful appearance, until his hair turned white, and he waited until he died, but he only waited for such a result, Lian Ge, do you think...worth it?

Then what do you think is a lifetime worth?

Lian Ge smiled slightly, and after a pause, asked aloud,

Hearing that, Gu Xiaoying on the other end of the phone was a little silent.

Will that old man regret... not regretting waiting so long, but regretting seeing her again at the last time?

...

...Actually, the old man has long understood that the girl he is waiting for who will meet him in a white dress at Caishikou can no longer wait.

On the other side of the phone, Gu Xiaoying said,

...It's like the old man said, in fact, he was waiting for the girl in the white dress in Caishikou, and that girl, in fact, could not wait long ago.

Lian Ge heard the words, looked at the distance and didn't speak.

Lian Ge, if I lose contact with you, how long would you be willing to wait for me? After a pause, Gu Xiaoying on the other end of the phone asked her chin.

I won't wait. Lian Ge smiled and responded, I will find you when I turn the whole world over.

Oh, man, you can talk. On the other end of the phone, Gu Xiaoying had an uncontrollable smile on her face, but she still snorted.

But my palace likes to listen, just a few more words.

Okay, OK... Lian Ge responded with a smile.

The little white mouse squatting on his shoulders stood on his forelimbs, turned his head, looked at the food stall next to him and called twice.

Lian Ge, the mouse seems to have called, what did it say? Gu Xiaoying was a little curious on the other side of the phone.

Hungry. Lian Ge replied with a smile.

After a while, Lian Ge ended the call, put the phone back in his pocket, turned his eyes to look at the mouse, and then at the food stall by the square, Lian Ge smiled and walked towards the food stall. ,

Brother, what would you like to order?

In front of the food stall, there were a few tables and some diners sitting around, which seemed very lively. Behind the stall, the stall owner was busy and greeted at the same time,

Barbecue, grilled eggplant, grilled meat...all of them.

Come on ten skewers of roasted pork skin, ten skewers of roasted ribs. Lian Ge glanced and said.

That's fine, you can sit by for a while, and I'll bring it to you right away. The stall owner responded, and then he got busy again.

Lian Ge stepped aside, found an empty table next to him, and sat down, while the white mouse on his shoulders turned his head and stared at the food stall, steaming hot, filled with fragrant food.

Glancing at the mouse, Lian Ge couldn't help but smile, then looked away, and glanced at the diners sitting in front of the food stall.

A group of diners were talking individually, and it seemed a little noisy in front of the stall.

...This taste is really not bad, the boss will have another bowl of Sanhe Soup...

...Eh, by the way, didn't you always work in other places before, Brother Xin, are you going to come back for a vacation or do you plan to come back for development?

I'm ready to go home. When I'm out of town, I can't help but miss my hometown. After thinking about it, I decided to come back and open a shop.

Open a store, what kind of store do you open?

Open a photo studio.

That's just in line with your previous job. Where are you going to open it? When the time comes, brothers will take care of your business.

Did you see it? Just walk across the square. Across the street, I've gotten all the facade down...

Why did you think about choosing there?

"Hey, don’t you know, I heard from my old man before that my great-grandfather used to open a photo studio across the street.

At that time, we were still sitting here in a vegetable market, and there was only my house that opened a photo studio in the nearby streets. When the old man at home went there last year, he still talked about it.

I just thought, since I was going to open it, I would just open it there, and it would be considered an inheritance of the ancestral business. "

...

Next to Lian Ge, at another table, a few young people were sitting around, eating and chatting.

Listening to the clear voice from the side to the ear, Lian Ge smiled slightly, raised his head slightly, looked across the square, looked at the street opposite the square, and paused slightly.

...Brother, if you want to have a barbecue, it's all ready for you.

From behind the booth, the busy stall owner brought the barbecue tray and put it on the table in front of Lian Ge, then turned around and continued to get busy.

The little white mouse squatting on his shoulders also stopped his eyes on the barbecue on the plate, standing up his forelimbs, looking greedy,

Glancing at the mouse, Lian Ge smiled and handed the skewers to the mouse. He also took the skewers and ate it.

Squeak...

Holding the barbecue skewers, the mice were fighting.

...

A total of eighty-two yuan...

Stand up from the booth again, and after closing the bill, one person and one mouse left the booth.

Pausing slightly, Lian Ge glanced at the bustling square and the city with thousands of lights in the distance.

Let's go.

Speaking softly, Lian Ge moved away again and walked towards the front.

Squeak...

No more.

Squeaky, Squeaky...

With the voice of Lian Ge and the cry of the white mouse, one person and one mouse gradually moved away, and the hustle and bustle of the square behind him gradually moved away.

...

The night is getting darker and there are fewer pedestrians on the street,

After leaving the square, Lian Ge didn't find another hotel to stay, and walked along the street that was gradually quieting down at night, towards the outside of the city.

The high-rise buildings with the lights of thousands of houses passing by, the roadside buildings gradually become sparse, the pedestrians and vehicles on the roads are gradually reduced, and the roads seem to be quieter.

One person and one mouse face the night wind, watching the lights of thousands of houses next to the street, along the road, drifting away,

The street below your feet gradually turned into a trunk road, and from a trunk road to a winding mountain road. The hustle and bustle of the city was replaced by the sound of insects in the fields and forests.

On the side, there are no longer tall buildings passing by. Instead, there are swaying branches and leaves in the forest, and houses scattered along the road.

The bustling and lively city also followed, gradually disappearing behind him.

Tweet... rustle.

The fresh breeze disturbs the branches and leaves, and the sunlight swaying from the rising sun shines through the window and reflects under the window.

Outside the house, among the dense branches and leaves, the sounds of insects, songs, and birds sounded, seeming to show their own existence.

Crunch...

Lian Ge, who woke up from his sleep, turned over and sat up, did not stay much, and opened the bedroom door.

Squeaky, squeaky... The little white mouse lying on the side also suddenly turned up and leaped on Lian Ge's shoulders.

...Boy, it's up.

By the door of the main house, an old farmer-like old man was knocking on the cigarette rod on the threshold, cleaning up the remaining soot.

It's really early to get up, like when my kid gets back free, he won't get up until three poles in the sun if he doesn't sleep.

The old man stood up with a smile on his dark face.

...It just so happens that the water in the pot is also boiling, old man, I want to order some noodles, or you guys can eat some too,

Don't bother.

Lian Ge walked to the door of the hall, shook his head, and looked outside the house.

This is a village in the mountains and forests, along the winding path in front of the door, some buildings are scattered on both sides,

After arriving here last night, Lian Ge entered the village and found a family at the entrance of the village at random, and stayed overnight.

What's the trouble? Anyway, the old man cooks one bowl of noodles, and two bowls of noodles...

The old man shook his head and said,

Young man, wait a while, and then sit down and eat.

Hearing this, Lian Ge turned his gaze, glanced at the old man, and nodded.

Then trouble you.

The old man waved his hand, put the cigarette stick in his hand on the stool next to him, and walked in toward the kitchen.

Looking at the old man, Lian Ge retracted his gaze, took a stool, sat down in front of the hall, and looked outside.

Outside the main house is the front yard, and next to the front yard is the path connecting the houses in the village.

Outside the village, there are several mountain peaks next to each other in the distance, which are connected with the surrounding mountains. The top of the mountain peak has been haunted by amiable clouds, but with the disturbance of the breeze, the buildings on the mountain still faintly appear in front of you.

Those are ancient buildings, you can see the outlines of palace pavilions.

...Come on, boy, your face is ready.

Behind him, the old man's voice sounded again, and he walked out of the kitchen with two bowls of noodles.

Lian Ge heard the sound, stood up, reached out and took one of the bowls of noodles.

Thank you, old man.

What are you polite. The old man waved his hand and put his bowl of noodles on the side table. There are not too many condiments, so don't dislike it. I cooked some sausages yesterday and I didn't eat them, so I cut some It’s in the bottom of the bowl. When you eat, boy, turn the noodles over.

... By the way, and...

While speaking, the old man turned around and walked into the kitchen.

Not long after, the old man walked out again with a shallow-bottomed plate with some noodles in it.

...I almost forgot you, come, you too.

The old man smiled, spoke to the mouse on Lian Ge's shoulder, and put the plate aside.

The little white mouse who was greedy by the bowl of singer Lian heard the sound. After looking at Lian Ge, he jumped off his shoulder in an instant, went around the plate, and ate.

The old man looked at the little white mouse and smiled, and then raised his face.

Thank you, old man.

Lian Ge glanced at the eating mouse, turned his eyes, and thanked the old man.

Don't worry, don't worry...

The old man said with a smile,

...The old lady at home went early, and my son worked in the city again. On weekdays, I was the only one in this house, and there were no guests coming, not even a person to talk.

The old man was talking and sat down by the door of the hall,

"There have been some field affairs all day long, and the busyness is over early, and it seems that there is nothing busy.

This person, it sounds strange, sometimes I want to be quiet, sometimes I want to be lively, and I have to thank you for being able to talk to the old man for a while. "

...Try it, try the taste of the noodles, it doesn't suit your appetite, the old man said with a smile.

Hearing this, Lian Ge glanced at the old man, holding a bowl of noodles, and eating a mouthful of noodles.

……pretty good.

It's good, it's good...

The old man responded and ate with the bowl of noodles.

...My son, he doesn't like eating noodles. Every time he comes back, he always misses some sausages at home. Last year, I made more sausages during the Chinese New Year, thinking about when I was free. He can come back and see...every month, he will come back from the city in the middle of the month, I will count the days, and by that morning, I will cook the sausages for him, and wait for him to get home at noon. When it’s time, you can eat it.

While eating the noodles, the old man looked into the distance and said,

Lian Ge heard the sound and listened quietly,

"...As usual, he should have come back yesterday. I got up early yesterday morning and cooked the sausages, but he didn't come back yesterday... This time we ate just the slices of sausages cooked yesterday.

On weekdays, I don't dare to cook this sausage casually, otherwise, the sausage is finished and what should I do if he doesn't come back. "

The old man was holding a bowl of noodles, eating the noodles, and said with a smile,

Hearing this, Lian Ge paused slightly while looking at the sausage slices just turned out from the bottom of the bowl.

Why don't the elderly call and ask? Lian Ge asked aloud while looking at the distance.

Hearing this, the old man paused, then shook his head.

...He bought me a cell phone, and he also called home on weekdays... But you said, he is also busy on weekdays, and it’s not easy to be outside. It’s not good to always call him on these trivial things at home. Remembering these things also affects his work.

Hearing this, Lian Ge glanced at the old man and didn't say much.

...Boy, were you looking at the mountain just now?

After a pause, the old man looked at the towering peaks outside the village.

Speaking of which, boy, are you here to travel? The mountains over there are Wudang Mountain. Look there, the palaces on the mountain, and the towers. They are all beautiful... I can’t see clearly. When the sky becomes clearer, the palaces on that mountain can be seen clearly here.

Hearing this, Lian Ge raised his head slightly and glanced at the palaces and pavilions hidden behind the clouds on the peaks of Wudang Mountain.

...Hey, when my son was young, he liked to go to the mountain, and he told me that he would go to the Taoist Temple when he was old, so I gave him a slap in the face.

The old man looked at the mountain peak in the distance and said with a smile.

"...At that time, the child and his mother were still there. When the Chinese New Year came, the family was poor and there was nowhere to go, so I went to the mountain. At that time, the ticket to the mountain was cheaper. Ah, if I didn’t charge any money, I would take my son and his mother with me, strolling in those palaces and buildings, it’s just like the Chinese New Year...

On the peak over there, there was an old Taoist priest in the temple. At that time, the old Taoist priest was eighty or ninety years old. He had a beard and his beard was all white..."

The old man was talking, raised his hand, and pointed to one of the peaks.

"...The children in the surrounding village all like to pull the Taoist beard. My son is also peeling and pulling along.