Chapter 1: Planting a Pear Tree

 

Leaning on the railing at the head of the small stone bridge, gazing at the gurgling water below, Wu Shan couldn’t help but sigh again. For a seven- or eight-year-old child, this was truly strange. To call him precocious would be too much, but the way he frowned and pondered didn’t look like he was just putting on an act.

 

A thin, clear-skinned child, Wu Shan looked at his own reflection on the surface of the lake. He finally confirmed one thing once again: he really had transmigrated. Maybe he was just the type with a slow acceptance rate, but it had taken him seven or eight years to come to this realization.

 

That’s right, his name in this world was Xu Xian.

 

Yes, there was no mistake at all, it was that Xu Xian. If the name was just a coincidence, then living in Qiantang County, being orphaned since childhood, and being raised entirely by an elder sister, these experiences completely dispelled Xu Xian’s last bit of doubt.

 

So, over the years, the question Xu Xian thought about the most was: Would there really be a woman,no, a female snake,who would one day appear before him to repay a kindness from a thousand years ago, and then enact a love story for the ages?

 

Xu Xian couldn’t help but complain, “Isn’t this just too melodramatic?” But even as he complained, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile, and that smile grew uncontrollably, turning into laughter, wild laughter.

 

“Ahahahaha!” On the little bridge, a brat burst out laughing, chest swelling with emotion, head thrown back.

 

Passersby all looked over. “Isn’t that the Xu family’s foolish child?” “Sigh, what a pity, looks perfectly fine but is a fool.” “Yes, yes!”

 

Xu Xian’s laughter turned into spasms, and then he quickly fled the scene. This little boy, with a troubled expression, covering his face as he ran, was none other than the famous little fool of Qiantang County, Xu Xian. As a transmigrator, not only had he failed to earn the reputation of a child prodigy, but his abnormal words and actions had left people with the impression that he was a fool. It had to be said, he was the most failed transmigrator in history.

 

But who cared? The Four Books and Five Classics were really boring, and no matter how hard he studied, he could never become the top scholar. Anyway, his son would become the top scholar in the future! Kids really are naive, who wants to climb trees with them? If you dare bully me, I’ll beat you up.

 

No matter how much of a failure, it didn’t matter. No matter how down and out, it was all the same. That person’s arrival would change everything. She would descend like an angel, completely saving Xu Xian’s life.

 

Thinking of this, Xu Xian couldn’t help but sigh, “Turns out, being a kept man is my destiny!” From the age of seven or eight, Xu Xian had already set his sights on being a kept man. Who knew if he would disappoint someone in the future!

 

It could be predicted that if Xu Xian kept developing like this, then when that fairy-like woman arrived at West Lake, after searching for a thousand miles, she would see Xu Xian, who had been begging by the Broken Bridge for years, rush up and say, “Wife, I’ve finally waited for you! Why did you take so long to come! Wuwuwuwu!” Then the woman in white would kick Xu Xian away, toss him two hundred taels of silver, and, not caring about shocking the world, turn into light and flee.

 

“Xu Xian!!! You little brat, where the hell did you go? Hurry up and go buy a bottle of soy sauce!” A loud shout shattered Xu Xian’s daydream. Xu Xian quickly wiped the drool from his mouth and said, “At your command, dear sister!”

 

Just like in the original story, Xu Xian, whose parents had died early, was raised by his elder sister. Even after transmigrating, Xu Xian was full of gratitude toward this sister who took care of him. Maybe, from an adult’s perspective, this gratitude was even greater than the original Xu Xian’s. Although she often lost her temper at him, Xu Xian was always obedient, much more sensible than other children.

 

As a member of the “soy sauce party,” Xu Xian grabbed the soy sauce bottle and strode toward the market. Heading toward another turning point in his beggar’s life.

 

The afternoon market was bustling, with all kinds of strange and pleasant cries of vendors blending with the rumble of wheels and the sounds of poultry and livestock, forming a symphony of worldly clamor.

 

“Pears for sale, pears for sale, big Ya pears, crisp and sweet!” A loud shout reached Xu Xian’s ears, the straightforward hawking unusually abrupt.

 

Xu Xian craned his neck to look. By the roadside stood a burly countryman, with a big cart beside him piled high with golden pears, shouting loudly. At a glance, it was clear he wasn’t a regular vendor.

 

By now, a crowd had already gathered to ask about the price. The countryman responded a bit awkwardly, but the price was not low. Yet, this countryman managed to defeat countless battle-hardened, sharp-tongued aunties and old women, refusing to lower the price no matter how hard they bargained. When pressed, he would suddenly say, “My wife said, not a single coin less.”

 

The people nearby burst out laughing. Xu Xian found it amusing and squeezed over, smiling at a woman with a vegetable basket, “Buying pears, Aunt Wu?” Their families were neighbors.

 

Aunt Wu turned to see Xu Xian, her expression tightened, then she smiled and said, “Not buying, not buying, just looking.” With that, she squeezed away, heading deeper into the market.

 

Xu Xian secretly laughed, knowing she was afraid he’d ask her for a pear. Even though it was a time of peace and prosperity, ancient times were never as abundant as modern times. For these commoners, pears were a bit of a luxury.

 

Still, the pears were sweet and delicious, so the countryman’s business wasn’t bad.

 

“Move aside, move aside, don’t get in the way of my pear selling.” The countryman shouted loudly. It turned out a Daoist priest had been lingering by the cart, staring longingly at the fragrant pears. But dressed in rags, he clearly didn’t look like someone who could afford them. The countryman, who was still a bit reserved with the townsfolk, became bold when facing such a down-and-out Daoist.

 

After being shooed away, the Daoist stood a bit farther off, but still refused to leave, just staring at the pears. The countryman grew furious and started cursing.

 

The Daoist’s expression didn’t change. Instead, he argued, “You have hundreds of pears on your cart. If I eat just one, it won’t hurt you much. Why get so angry?”

 

Xu Xian found it funny. As expected of a monk, his skin was thick. But seeing his tattered headscarf, patched clothes, and aged face, and considering the cold weather, Xu Xian felt a bit of pity.

 

The people nearby also tried to persuade, “Just give him a bad one and be done with it.” But the countryman, face flushed, stubbornly refused. The crowd grew, arguing noisily. Some said the countryman was too stingy, others said the Daoist was shameless.

 

“Here, I’ll buy a pear for him!” A childish voice suddenly rang out. A small hand held out a few copper coins to the countryman.

 

Someone who recognized him grabbed his hand and scolded, “Xu Xian, when did you sneak over here? Do you know how hard your sister worked for that money? Hurry up and go buy soy sauce!” They had seen the soy sauce bottle in Xu Xian’s hand.

 

Xu Xian shook off the hand and said, “I want to, it’s none of your business.” He had hesitated for a while, but in the end, he couldn’t bear it. This Daoist might not survive the winter. Though his family was poor, they could still afford a pear. He picked a big one from the cart and handed it to the Daoist.

 

The Daoist looked intently at Xu Xian, then smiled and bowed, “Thank you, little brother.” Then he said to the crowd, “I am a monk and do not hoard wealth. I happen to have good pears as well. Please, everyone, have a taste.”

 

Xu Xian asked curiously, “If you have pears, why eat someone else’s?”

 

The Daoist smiled mysteriously, “I still need the pit from your pear to plant.” With that, he started eating heartily. The golden pear was crisp and juicy, making Xu Xian’s mouth water. He hadn’t eaten such a pear in a long time.

 

The Daoist finished the pear as if no one else was around, took the pit in his hand, dug a hole right there on the street, put the pit in, and covered it with soil. “Who can give me a bowl of hot water?”

 

The Daoist’s strange actions had already drawn a big crowd. Someone, eager for excitement, quickly borrowed a bowl of hot water from a nearby shop and handed it to the Daoist. The Daoist took it without hesitation and poured it over the spot.

 

Under everyone’s gaze, the place where the pit was buried slowly sprouted, grew, and in no time became a pear tree, blossoming and bearing fruit, the branches heavy with pears. The Daoist picked one and handed it to Xu Xian, “This is for you, little benefactor.”

 

Then, as the crowd scrambled for the rest, he distributed all the pears, then chopped down the lush pear tree, slung it over his shoulder, and walked away with a carefree air.

 

Xu Xian was dumbfounded. Compared to this, the magicians of his previous life were just child’s play. Even though he knew this world had immortals and monsters,his future wife was a thousand-year-old snake demon, witnessing it with his own eyes was still shocking. In his heart, he kept repeating, “So this is what they call immortal arts ?”