Jian Yumei watched as the old man with white hair and beard played with the children.
The children were searching for their candies, and one child cheered, "Oh, I found it, it's here, in my pocket! Sun Wukong is really mischievous. He's as mischievous as us kids. He put the candy in my pocket!"
The other children cheered too. "The candy, my White Rabbit milk candy, it's here, I found it!" they exclaimed.
The old man had a smile on his face, looking at the children with love in his eyes.
Jian Yumei watched from afar and smiled too.
At that moment, an old lady came running out of the village, holding a bunch of needles and threads in her hand. From a distance, she shouted, "Chen Laoxian, Chen Laoxian, are you here playing with the kids again? The grannies in the village heard the kids say you're playing at the village entrance, and they all want your help with sewing. Luckily, you've brought the kids here. Whatever the kids do, you do too!"
The old man looked at the old lady. "Wang Xiaoya, I remember the first time I saw you, you were only three years old. Now you're all grown up and still as agile as ever. Not bad!"
"Chen Laoxian, it's all thanks to you for teaching me some skills. Although I didn't practice them diligently, my legs are still more agile than those grannies'. Look at me, I'm over eighty, and those old grannies still make me run around. They're telling me not to leave because they'll need my help later!" Wang Xiaoya said.
"Alright, it's just some needlework. Give them to me, and I'll sew for you!" Chen Laoxian said.
"Watch Grandpa sew!" the children exclaimed excitedly.
Then Chen Laoxian took the bunch of needles and threads from Wang Xiaoya and asked, "Is this all?"
"Yes, that's all. These are all the needles the grannies in front of the village temple use for sewing. There are dozens of them. Last time, we didn't even see how you did it. You finished so quickly!" Wang Xiaoya said.
"Alright, watch closely!" As he spoke, Chen Laoxian swallowed all the needles.
"Oh, he swallowed the needles, he swallowed them!" the children shouted.
Then Chen Laoxian continued to swallow the threads as well. Each bunch contained dozens of threads. After swallowing them all, he left the ends of the threads outside his mouth.
"Come on, kids, help me out. Each of you take a thread and pull it out!"
The children came over one by one and carefully pulled out a thread each.
The first child slowly pulled one out, and it was a needle-threaded thread. The next child continued.
Soon, the children had pulled out dozens of threads, all of them threaded with needles.
Everyone cheered!
Even Wang Xiaoya couldn't help but laugh along.
"Old Immortal, you truly are remarkable. You mentioned watching me play since you were three, and now, at eighty-five, if you were to depart, you'd still accompany these children until they reach eighty!" Madame Wang Xiaoya spoke.
Old Immortal Chen chuckled, "Man cannot surpass the heavens, my dear Xiaoya. Perhaps tomorrow you won't see me anymore! The Way that can be spoken is not the eternal Way, the name that can be named is not the eternal Name; everything has its predestined course!"
"You jest! Many folks in the village have faced aging and mortality, yet you remain as ageless as an ancient pine. You seem destined for eternal youth! Well, I must be off now, thank you. I still need to deliver needles and threads to those old ladies!" Wang Xiaoya remarked, turning towards the village.
Watching the old lady's departure, Chen Immortal smiled, shaking his head.
At that moment, Jian Yumei had approached him.
"Greetings, venerable immortal. My master has sent me to deliver a letter to you," Jian Yumei said respectfully.
"A letter? Who is your master, young man?" Chen Immortal asked, smiling warmly.
"My master is Master Lin from the Lin family village up ahead in the mountains. He instructed me to deliver a letter to you," Jian Yumei replied respectfully.
"Oh, the letter?" Chen Immortal inquired.
"My master said that upon arrival, I should inform you that the letter has been written," Jian Yumei explained.
"Haha, that Lin, always mischievous since childhood. Even now, he hasn't forgotten to playfully banter with me. Haha!" Chen Immortal chuckled heartily, producing a letter. Jian Yumei recognized it as the one left on the desk by his master.
Chen Immortal smiled kindly as he read the letter, then looked up at Jian Yumei.
"Hello, venerable immortal!" Jian Yumei greeted.
"Very well then! You must be Jian Yumei?" Chen Immortal queried.
"Yes, that's me," Jian Yumei replied respectfully.
"Alright, follow me," Chen Immortal said, leading Jian Yumei towards the mountains.
Their destination was a small cabin halfway up the mountainside.
Chen Immortal quickened his pace, and Jian Yumei, maintaining a steady pace, followed suit.
As Chen Immortal turned back, he observed Jian Yumei's calm demeanor, his eyes filled with hopeful expectation.
Upon reaching the cabin, Chen Immortal smiled and gestured, "Young man, please come in!"
"Thank you, venerable immortal," Jian Yumei responded politely.
Entering the cabin, Jian Yumei noticed its simplicity: just a bed, a wardrobe, an Eight Immortals table, a few stools, and nothing more!
Jian Yumei understood that such immortals often led austere lives, but he hadn't expected it to be this simple.
"Feeling hungry, young man?" Chen Immortal asked.
Jian Yumei suddenly realized it was already noon and that he was indeed hungry.
"Come, let's dine together!" Chen Immortal said, leading Jian Yumei to the Eight Immortals table.
"What would you like to eat, young man?" Chen Immortal inquired.
"Whatever you're having, venerable immortal, I'll have the same," Jian Yumei replied.
"As a young man, you deserve something delicious! How about dumplings?" Chen Immortal suggested.
Before Jian Yumei could respond, he noticed a large plate of steaming dumplings on the table, accompanied by two vinegar dishes.
"How wonderful!" Jian Yumei exclaimed.
"Eat while it's hot! These are the finest dumplings in Xi'an. I indulged myself last time, and they insisted I return at any time. Since I can't go anytime, I only eat when I have visitors. Come, young man, let's feast together!" Chen Immortal urged.
"Alright, venerable immortal, I defer to your kindness," Jian Yumei replied, picking up his chopsticks to start eating.
"Please, join me," Jian Yumei invited.
"Of course, let's dine together!" Chen Immortal replied, smiling warmly at Jian Yumei.
As Jian Yumei devoured his food quickly, Chen Immortal ate slowly, and soon the large plate of dumplings was almost empty.
"Would you like more?" Chen Immortal asked Jian Yumei.
"No, thank you. I've eaten my fill. Are you satisfied, venerable immortal?" Jian Yumei responded.
"I'm satisfied. Actually, I only ate to accompany you. I can do without food," Chen Immortal said, smiling.