Kapitel 29: Discharge (Part Two)
At around seven in the morning, the portly San Pao arrived at the hospital almost simultaneously with Sun Chao. After leaving breakfast for Fang Yi, upon learning of Fang Yi's impending discharge, the chubby boy promptly called Man Jun to come and complete the discharge formalities.
By the time the paperwork was finalized, it was already past eleven o'clock. Dressed in the new clothes the chubby boy had purchased for him, Fang Yi realized he had little to take with him; his belongings, including a wooden box, had already been transported to Man Jun's home by San Pao and the chubby boy the day before.
"Xiao Fang, I should be discharged in a couple of days as well. Don't forget the old man; do come to visit me when you have the time..." Sun Lianda said, reluctantly grasping Fang Yi's hand. He solemnly placed a piece of paper with his home address and phone number into Fang Yi's palm. He wished to keep in touch with Fang Yi, but aside from the chubby boy's pager, they could only leave the phone number of Man Jun's home.
Sun Lao's words brought the greatest joy to Man Jun. With Fang Yi as a connection, he hoped to gradually forge a relationship with Sun Lao. Such a bond need not be tested repeatedly; as long as Sun Lao could assist him once, Man Jun would be thoroughly satisfied.
"Sun Lao, I will certainly pay you a visit..." Fang Yi nodded earnestly. If he were to pursue a career in antiques and cultural artifacts, he would undoubtedly need to engage in more exchanges and learn from Sun Lao, a man deserving of profound respect.
"We have an agreement, after all..." As the saying goes, the older one gets, the more childlike they become. Sun Lianda, now fond of the young Fang Yi, feared that they might lose touch in the future.
"Xiao Chao, please drive Xiao Fang and the others home..." Sun Lianda instructed his son.
"Sun Lao, there's no need; I drove here myself..." Man Jun quickly interjected. Though his car had collided with Fang Yi's the previous day, Fang Yi's instinctive backward movement during the impact had spared Man Jun's vehicle from significant damage, allowing it to function as usual.
"Master, you predicted my misfortune accurately; I hope there won't be any further calamities in the future?"
As Fang Yi followed Man Jun and the others out of the hospital, inhaling the fresh air that differed from the antiseptic smell of the hospital, he let out a deep sigh of relief. He understood that from this moment on, he was truly stepping into society, a life entirely different from that of the mountains.
Fang Yi felt a mix of longing and trepidation for this new life. The ceaseless throng of people on the streets and the incessant honking of cars left him utterly astonished. Having grown accustomed to the tranquility of the mountains, he had never before witnessed such a bustling scene.
"What's wrong, Xiao Fang? Are you feeling unwell?" Man Jun asked as he started the car, noticing Fang Yi standing at the entrance, seemingly in a daze.
"No... it's not that. I've just never seen so many people before..."
Fang Yi replied with a wry smile. For some reason, at that moment, he found himself reminiscing about his life in the mountains. Although it was somewhat solitary, it brought a sense of peace that was absent in this bustling urban area, where everything felt shrouded in a haze.
"It seems the sages chose to retreat to the mountains for a reason; however, I must heed my master's words..." Fang Yi suddenly recalled a saying from his master: "To seek seclusion, one must first engage with the world."
According to the old Taoist's philosophy, "Cultivating in the mountains, refining the heart in the mortal realm."
While it is essential to cultivate away from the noise, it is equally necessary to engage with the world to refine one's spirit. Only by experiencing the myriad flavors of life and enduring the vicissitudes of existence can one touch the essence of the Dao and transcend the five elements and three realms.
Fang Yi did not harbor such grand aspirations. Although he longed for a carefree life in the mountains, he understood that during the phase of refining essence into qi, a pure heart was paramount; the more innocent the practitioner, the better.
However, to transcend the realm of refining qi into spirit, one must undergo the corresponding trials to perfect their heart. Fang Yi knew that merely immersing himself in solitary practice in the mountains would not advance his cultivation.
Just like the old Taoist, who spent most of his life wandering the world after establishing his foundation in the mountains, eventually retreating to the hills in his later years—though heaven and earth have changed, he never managed to break through to a higher realm. Nevertheless, the old Taoist lived well beyond a hundred years, far exceeding the lifespan of an ordinary person.
Now, Fang Yi's cultivation was nearing that of his master, but this referred solely to his level of skill; his inner state was still lacking. The reason the old Taoist sent him down the mountain was to sharpen his heart and engage with the world without losing himself.
"Xiao Fang, let's first have a meal, and then we can buy some things. It was too late yesterday; Hua Zi and San Jun stayed at my place..." Man Jun's voice broke Fang Yi's contemplative silence as he gazed out the car window.
"Brother Man, that would be too much trouble for you..." Fang Yi replied, "Truth be told, my injuries aren't that severe; your compensation of twenty thousand is a bit excessive. Perhaps let the chubby boy return it to you later..."
He was well aware of his own condition; aside from the natural stress response during the collision, he had sustained no significant injuries. If there were any loss to speak of, it would likely be the damaged Gaba La pendant.
"Brother Man, Fang Yi is right. I was just startled. How about I return the twenty thousand?"
As soon as Fang Yi finished speaking, the chubby boy chimed in. Though they were somewhat impoverished, they still had their pride, especially since Man Jun had treated them well; the chubby boy felt a bit embarrassed about taking the twenty thousand.
"What are you saying? Do you look down on your Brother Man?"
Man Jun, driving, cast a disapproving glance back at the two and said, "If Xiao Fang wasn't injured, it's merely luck. It is only right for your Brother Man to compensate. Besides, if you wish to set up a stall at Chao Tian Gong, you need at least ten or eight thousand to get started. It's best to keep that money for now..."
Although Man Jun hoped to use Fang Yi to connect with Sun Lianda, he was not a bad person. He conducted his business with integrity, and few of the items he sold were counterfeit. This honesty was a significant reason for his success at Chao Tian Gong.
"Alright, let's not dwell on that. Let me treat you three to something nice..." Noticing that Fang Yi seemed poised to speak again, Man Jun pressed the accelerator, navigating the streets until they finally arrived at the entrance of a modest restaurant.
As Fang Yi looked out the window, he experienced a sense of both familiarity and strangeness. The familiarity stemmed from the descriptions of cities he had encountered in books and on the radio, while the strangeness arose from the novelty of witnessing it firsthand; seeing it in person was far more vivid.
This restaurant, in Fang Yi's imagination, resembled an ancient tavern, ideally adorned with a sign bearing the character for "wine." However, in reality, it was merely a standard row house nestled within a residential community. Without the sign out front, Fang Yi would hardly have guessed it was a restaurant.
"There is still so much for me to learn..."
At that moment, Fang Yi felt akin to a parched sponge, plunging into water and absorbing the myriad bits of knowledge that ordinary people took for granted. The world around him gradually became more tangible and vibrant.
"Brother Man, we're almost at our place..." After getting out of the car, San Pao pointed to an uphill path, puzzled, and said, "Isn't that your house over there? It wouldn't even take three minutes to walk there..."
"Exactly. I don't cook at my place; I usually eat here..." Man Jun chuckled as he locked the car. "Don't let the small facade fool you; the food here is quite excellent. You'll see once you try it..."
Having dined here almost daily, Man Jun was quite familiar with the restaurant owner. After placing their orders, he dashed to the kitchen and returned with several plates of cold dishes, placing a bottle of beer in front of each of them.
"Brother Man, I just got discharged; perhaps I should skip the alcohol..." Fang Yi said with a wry smile, shaking his head. He was not particularly concerned about his health; he simply did not enjoy beer.
When he was in the mountains, both the chubby boy and San Pao had brought beer along, but Fang Yi preferred his master's homemade spirits over the odd taste of beer, which he had always avoided.
"That's fair; you just got discharged, so it's best to refrain from drinking..." Man Jun, not giving it much thought, set Fang Yi's beer aside, knowing they would be heading to a supermarket just outside the community. He could leave the car at the restaurant after finishing his drink.
"How is it? The flavors here are quite good, aren't they?" After a satisfying meal, Man Jun picked at his teeth with a toothpick, his shiny bald head seeming to glow with satisfaction.
"Yes, it's delicious..." Fang Yi and the others exclaimed in unison, though Fang Yi's appreciation differed somewhat from that of the chubby boy and San Pao.
Due to the limited conditions in the mountains, Fang Yi and his master rarely used seasonings when cooking. For over a decade, he had not even tasted monosodium glutamate, let alone the meticulously prepared dishes from the restaurant; he had enjoyed the fast food the chubby boy bought just the day before.
However, after this meal, Fang Yi felt that the grease in the food was somewhat excessive. Such richness far exceeded what his body required, and if accumulated, it would lead to fat formation, posing a significant burden on his health.
"Brother Man, do you have a stove at home?"
After leaving the restaurant, Fang Yi inquired, as he began to contemplate cooking for himself. Eating out was too expensive; that meal had cost over two hundred, a burden that the three of them could hardly afford.
Moreover, with over a decade of cooking experience, Fang Yi was confident that even with less oil and fewer unhealthy seasonings, he could prepare meals that rivaled those of the restaurant. After all, having learned from his master, who had a penchant for delicious food, Fang Yi had acquired quite a skill in the kitchen.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein