Still Learning To Live As A Cultivator

Chapter Twenty Six - My Grandfather is not an old gentleman

Leon felt his nerves were shaken; not only was he about to come face to face to his old grandfather, for whom this body of his felt warmth and affection, even if his memories of him were hazy and distant, but the whole village seemed to have poured from their houses to bear witness to his arrival.  As his black eyes cast over them, each caused an awakening of a memory, some good, some bad and some he could not make sense of for each focused on different times, places... he rubbed his temples as the assault became a flood and caused a painful headache to form. 

A familiar touch lightly grasped his wrist, his body relaxed automatically and he felt the memories were washed away with the image of one man covering them all.  To that man, to Jin Li, he nodded and gave a reassuring smile, before turning back to the small village house before him.

To call it a courtyard would be to exaggerate somewhat.  It looked like it may have been originally, but the wall surrounding it had crumbled in places, patched in some, while others were ignored.  Hardy weeds grew in the flowerbeds and brown grass where some sort of dirt path should have been.  The roof on the rear part of the property seemed more or less in tact, although the thatch had seen better days, while that of the side building was full of holes and open to the elements.  It was clear that it had been ignored for want of more urgent repairs.  Fortunately, the walls of the main property seemed sound and the door solid.  Leon quickly bowed to the crowds to acknowledge them, before hurrying to knock on this door as well as calling out; "Grandfather, it's m-m-me..."

The crowds whispered amongst themselves in speculation and gossip.

"'Ere, didn' he go off to some fancy school in them north mountains?"

"Mrs Arion said he'd likely drop out!  Probably come home in shame!"

"Tha' didnae explain the posh carriage an' young masters..."

"Ye reckon Leo sold hisself to bein' a servant?"

"Well his dress is a bit posh..."

A more enterprising auntie spotted Russ also getting out of the carriage and beckoned him over.  "Wha' is it, auntie?" He asked politely.  He was well aware that the old biddy was after gossip, his family was often at the centre of it, he felt a little torn that the central subject was now his best friend instead. 

"Tha' some mighty nobby fellows, how is it tha' you and young Leo got to be riding in his carriage?"

He rolled his eyes inwardly, but decided the truth wasn't anything bad.  Anyway, the whole village would know some enough.  "They be Leo's friends from his school.  We met in Cenapar city, as you know, Aunty, I was there seeking work.  The carriage belongs to one of them and it were their idea to come back with Leo for a bit, to see his old granda'."

"Such a filial child," the old Aunty murmured.

"Tha's what you think!" Muttered a neighbour, but before anyone could question what she was on about, old Leonard opened his front door.

Tears instantly blurred Leon's vision as a comforting familiarity swept over him at the sight of the wrinkled face.  The old man really could only be in his sixties, not old by terms of his previous life, but clearly the years had worn down this white haired old man.  His brows were still as bushy as the memory that had appeared in Leon's mind and the glasses beneath them were just as thick as the ones he'd originally used back in the summer, before the accident had seen them beyond repair.

"Leo? Is that really you?" The old man should have been equal to Leon in height, but his spine was curved and shoulders stooped as he leaned on a roughly carved wooden cane, so he had to look up to see his grandson clearly.  The lines of this grandson's face had not changed much, still as familiar to him as his own and a relief swept through his old frame.  He lifted his cane and bopped Leon upon the head.  "You unfilial grandson!" He began yelling.  "After no hearing from ye for half a year ye dare jus' show up like this?"