About half a month later, Xu Churen arrived at Xujia Village in Gushu County, Yingtian Prefecture.
Children are playing by the roadside, while adults sit at the village entrance, enjoying the winter afternoon sun.
At the entrance of the Da Song Di Bao Rural Newspaper Office, several young people were discussing the imperial court's new policies on agriculture and sericulture this year.
When they saw a carriage coming in, the children who were playing all gathered around it.
"My lord, we have arrived." Xu Qing, Xu Churen's son, dismounted from his horse, walked to the carriage door, got on, and helped his father down.
Xu Churen was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) during the Yuanfeng era of Emperor Shenzong, and more than fifty years have passed since then.
After passing the imperial examination, Xu Churen never returned to this place.
A young man approached and asked, "Sir, where do you come from, and who are you looking for?"
Xu Churen was slightly taken aback. At that moment, he couldn't help but think of the poem by He Zhizhang, a famous poet of the early Tang Dynasty.
I left home young and returned old, my accent unchanged but my hair gray. Children I meet don't recognize me, laughing and asking, "Where do you come from, stranger?"
Xu Churen coughed twice, a relieved smile appearing on his face, and said, "I'm going home."
Everything has changed. The old houses have all been demolished, but the big tree is still there.
When I was young, that big tree wasn't like it is now.
Back then, he often lay under a big tree reading, sometimes for an entire day.
His mother cooked at home and would call him to eat after she finished cooking.
With Xu Qing's help, Xu Churen sat down under a big tree.
He seemed to hear his mother's voice again, and he seemed to see a young man stand up from under the tree and walk into the house, with the setting sun shining on the ground.
A few days later, news of Xu Churen's death reached the palace.
Looking at the fallen leaves covering the ground, Zhao Huan felt rather sad: "Qin Qing, tell me, have I failed Prime Minister Xu?"
Qin Hui said from the side, "Your Majesty and Minister Xu are kindred spirits, and Minister Xu is well aware of Your Majesty's predicament."
Zhao Huan sighed: "Treat Xu Qing well, and don't make this public."
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