Chapter 76: The Youth's Revisit 2: Each Strives on Their Own Path! Though Across a Thousand Miles, We Share the Same Wind! (The End)
The summer evening was still sweltering, but the tea room was relatively cool. Lu Fang took a sip of the long-missed sweet milk tea, then picked up a new flavored snow cake and chewed it slowly.
As he ate, tears welled up in his eyes. It was so delicious, such a nostalgic taste.
Lu Fang thought about it again and felt a little lost. Was he missing the snow cake?
Perhaps it was me six years ago, when I was still at the Imperial College.
Rarely having such a leisurely time, he ate slowly, chatting casually with his classmates about their recent situations over the years.
Most of Lin Weiming and his colleagues were transferred to nearby or neighboring prefectures and counties for their second term. Some were promoted one or two ranks, but their positions were generally similar to their initial assignments. That's how officialdom is. Unless you're like Lin Wen'an, who gets directly to the emperor's ears on the day he passes the imperial examination, most ordinary people need decades of immersion and climbing to reach the central government.
He is an extremely rare exception, an exceptional case among exceptional cases.
But after hearing his friends' stories, Lu Fang felt a pang of sadness. He was indeed the most special one again. It was all his own fault for being too diligent. When his county magistrate learned that he was leaving, he held Lu Fang's hand and looked at him with tears in his eyes, looking very reluctant to part with him. He even said, "Military Advisor Lu, you have learned so many languages, but now you are going to Yanzhou. Isn't that a waste? Why don't you stay..."
Lu Fang was deeply moved, and then ran even faster.
Over there, after Lin Weiming had coaxed him gently for a long time, Geng Hao finally walked over, still glaring at Cheng Shujun. He plopped down heavily next to Lu Fang, still fuming, as if someone owed him eight hundred strings of cash. He glanced at Lu Fang and said with disgust, "The smell on you is even stronger than Yao Deshui's!"
Lu Fang: "..."
That jerk's mouth always sounds so familiar! He just can't speak properly!
Geng Hao even covered his nose with his sleeve.
I used to give in to him a little when we were in school, but now… Lu Fang snorted and said coldly, “Your older sister is going to marry Cheng Da.”
One sentence was the final blow, and Geng Hao was so angry his nose was crooked!
His eyes were wide with anger, and Lu Fang thought he was about to stand up and overturn the table. But unexpectedly, his anger reached his throat, but then strangely stopped. He sat down dejectedly, crossed his arms, and turned his head sharply to face the wall. His shoulders slumped slightly, and he didn't utter a sound for a long time.
He didn't actually storm off! Geng Hao's composure has improved quite a bit. Lu Fang was extremely surprised.
Geng Hao sat there with a dark expression for a moment, then suddenly stood up, walked behind Cheng Shujun, and patted him lightly on the shoulder twice: "You, come out with me."
His tone was harsh.
Cheng Shujun turned around at the sound and saw Geng Hao staring straight at him, his eyes not filled with anger, but with an inexplicable solemnity.
He paused for a moment, nodded, and got up to follow him.
Meng Boyuan, however, was a little worried. He leaned forward and gave a concerned reminder: "Geng Da, don't you dare hit him! Cheng Da is now an official of the court, and he's also an imperial censor. If you beat him, your crime will be aggravated. It will be easy for him to impeach you. He won't even need to submit a petition; he'll impeach you without hesitation."
Geng Hao was speechless for a moment, then turned around and glared at him fiercely: "Shut up! Who do you take me for!"
After saying that, he and Cheng Shujun left the private room one after the other and went to a quiet corner at the end of the outer corridor.
Lu Fang craned his neck for a glance, then pulled back, counted on his fingers, and lowered his voice: "Geng Hao's older sister isn't married yet? How old is she?"
He remembered that two years ago, when he corresponded with these friends, he heard that Geng Hao had married the only daughter of the military governor of Qingzhou. At that time, Geng Hao was already in his early twenties, which was considered late. Although Lu Fang could not go in person, he specially collected a lot of novelties and sent them to Qingzhou by someone from afar to congratulate him.
He's already married, so why is his older sister still waiting?
Lin Weiming and Geng Hao had served as officials in Qingzhou for many years and had a close relationship, so he knew a lot about the inside story. He took a sip of tea and slowly explained to Lu Fang, "Geng Da's older sister has been wasting her life until now, and the main reason for this is really Geng Hao. He has probably ruined countless of his sister's marriages."
"Oh?" Lu Fang's interest was completely piqued, and he leaned forward slightly. "Tell me more!"
These old stories weren't anything that couldn't be told, so Lin Weiming recounted them in detail. Originally, the daughter of Prime Minister Geng was not someone an ordinary person could marry into. Although this Third Sister Geng was born out of wedlock, she was born to Geng Hao's birth mother's maidservant, so Geng Hao naturally treated her with more affection than his other sisters. Especially in Geng Hao's eyes, his elder sister had a delicate, gentle appearance, clearly someone easily bullied. He absolutely had to thoroughly investigate her situation before arranging a marriage for her!
Therefore, when Geng San Niang reached marriageable age, Geng Hao, who was still a teenager, cared for her a hundred times more than his aunt and father.
By then, the scandal of Dr. Yao's angry beating of the homosexual had already occurred, and Geng Hao felt that none of the men in the world were reliable. For every man Geng Sanniang considered, he would secretly investigate him thoroughly.
He might hire beautiful women or even handsome young men to test the other party's character; or he might throw out money to test whether the other party was greedy. Anyone who glanced at a beauty more than a few times, spoke lewdly, or showed interest in money and was of questionable character was rejected. Even after passing the tests of beauties and money, he would not let his guard down, but would send his twelve zodiac-themed servants, disguised, to bribe the servants in the other party's household to find out their private secrets.
Any shady dealings were immediately reported to Geng Sanniang.
Although Geng Sanniang was born out of wedlock, she had grown up in luxury, receiving a classical education and being protected by her parents, brothers, and sisters. Having seen many grand occasions, she was also proud and opinionated. After considering the letter Geng Hao sent back, she felt that these people were either dishonest or morally flawed.
The principle of "better to have nothing than something bad" led to her marriage being delayed year after year.
Geng Xiang's career had reached its peak, and he no longer expected to use his daughter for marriage. Therefore, Geng San Niang was unwilling, which was fine with him. He was already annoyed enough with going to court every day, and he didn't have the energy to urge such a matter. In his mind, his daughter, Geng Wenhua's daughter, would not have to worry about getting married even if she was a little older.
Geng Hao was overjoyed; he wished no one would marry his older sister. Besides, those who were investigated did indeed have some problems, more or less, which even his aunt and father frowned upon hearing. He had helped his older sister escape a disaster. After all, marriage could never be more careful.
Especially after his relationship with Yao Xiaoniangzi improved, he learned more or less about how Yao Xiaoniangzi had been slandered. Geng Hao found it hard to believe that someone could distort the truth to such an extent. He should have been more ruthless when he beat Deng Feng!
The world is so malicious towards women.
Geng Sanniang was very composed. Although she was born delicate and gentle, she was not the kind of soft persimmon that was easy to manipulate. As she grew older, during family banquets at festivals, there would always be some tactless relatives who would make sarcastic remarks to her: "...If you keep being so picky and picky, with high standards but low abilities, you'll become an old maid that no one wants!"
Geng Sanniang was not annoyed when she heard this. Instead, she smiled politely and said in a gentle voice, "Thank you for your concern. You see, if someone like you can get married, then I don't need to worry at all."
With just one sentence, she made the other person turn pale, and then she sarcastically accused her of being unruly and ill-mannered.
Geng Sanniang replied in her usual gentle voice, "You've misunderstood me. My rules vary depending on the person. Someone has already shown disrespect for elders, and now you're blaming me?"
Then there were those elders in the clan who, relying on their age and seniority, advised her to make do: "This won't do, that won't do, are you going to wait until you're thirty? By then, other people will already be holding their grandchildren, and you still won't be married! You're already this old, just find someone decent to marry!"
Geng Sanniang covered her mouth with her handkerchief in surprise, her eyes sparkling, her smile gentle, but her words could infuriate anyone: "Eh? Do you think I'll die after I turn thirty? Or are you afraid you... won't live to see that day? Oh dear, don't worry. Even if you really are heartless enough to leave us, on my wedding day, I'll be the first to burn paper money to tell you, so you can be happy for us in the afterlife!"
After several encounters, the relatives learned from Geng Sanniang's subtle yet sharp wit. Not daring to really do anything to the Prime Minister's daughter, they became too lazy to say anything more, lest they be scolded back by her with a smile, making a fool of themselves and feeling resentful.
Of course, some gossiped about it to Geng Xiang and his aunt, but his aunt only had one biological child, so she naturally sided with her daughter. As for Geng Xiang, he was impatient to listen to these women's arguments and didn't even bother to see them. What did these women want from him? They must be crazy! So he sent them to see Geng San Niang's mother, who then defended her daughter and cursed back. And so it went on endlessly.
Geng Sanniang triumphed over the gossip in person, and ignored the rumors spread behind her back, continuing to live her carefree life: serving her parents at home, reading, writing, playing chess, and cards with her sisters. When she got bored, she would call her servants and go to her family's estate outside the city for a stroll and some fun.
The day she met Cheng Shujun was when she and her sisters went to Daxiangguo Temple to watch the new acrobatic troupe.
The temple was bustling with worshippers, the drums and gongs were deafening, and the crowds were so dense that people were practically being pushed off their feet. Geng Sanniang panicked after getting separated from her servants. Though she was quick-witted, in the past twenty years, she had never truly been alone. She was always surrounded by servants, and at home, dozens of people attended to her. Suddenly finding herself in this unfamiliar, crowded, and noisy place, her feigned composure crumbled instantly.
She dared not wander off, fearing the servants would lose her even more; staying put, she feared being targeted by the libertine. The torment of fear was the hardest thing to endure; she tried and tried, but tears finally streamed down her face, wetting the light gauze of the curtain.
Just when I was feeling panicked and completely lost, Cheng Shujun appeared.
He was an official, and also her younger brother's classmate! He appeared before her like a lifeline. Through the hazy gauze curtain, Geng Sanniang saw that the man was tall and upright, with proper manners and a clear and open expression in his eyes. He spoke gently to comfort her, but always kept his eyes lowered, his gaze fixed obediently on the edge of her curtain, never overstepping his bounds.
In the midst of the noisy, chaotic crowd, he was like a serene bamboo growing against the wind on a mountain cliff.
The panic in Geng San Niang's heart strangely subsided. A heart that had never been moved by romantic feelings for a man quietly opened a crack for this proper young man in this embarrassing moment.
After that, Geng Sanniang sent people to carefully investigate Cheng Shujun's background. Once she had found out, she took advantage of Cheng Shujun's day off, changed into a set of men's clothing that was neither new nor old, and quietly slipped into the alley next to the Imperial College, where she ambushed him outside Zhixingzhai.
This seemingly delicate woman actually possessed great courage. As for how Geng San Niang won over Cheng Shu Jun, only Cheng Shu Jun and Geng San Niang themselves knew the twists and turns in between.
Lu Fang was thoroughly enjoying the conversation. He calculated the ages of Geng Sanniang and Cheng Shujun, and a mischievous smile suddenly appeared on his lips. He narrowed his eyes and chuckled in a low voice, "Tsk, so Cheng Da likes older women after all."
Upon hearing this, Lin Weiming and Meng Boyuan both exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with bewilderment: "What are you talking about?"
Lu Fang raised an eyebrow: "You don't even know that Cheng Da used to have a crush on Miss Yao?"
Lin Weiming and Meng Boyuan were so shocked they almost fell off their stools: "What! Doesn't he like Yaoji's cat, Wangwang?!"
Lu Fang sighed, looking at the two of them as if they were idiots. Even he, who wasn't in the same school as Cheng Shujun back in school, could tell that these two, who hung out with Cheng Shujun every day, had no idea!
I really don't know how those two idiots managed to pass the imperial examination.
After Lu Fang's words exposed their lies, Lin Weiming and Meng Boyuan exchanged bewildered glances and finally began to think back carefully. The more they thought about it, the more alarmed they became. It seemed to make sense. How could they have actually believed Cheng Da's nonsense back then? Did they really think he went to the grocery store every day just to see the dogs!
Lu Fang couldn't stand their blank, dumbfounded expressions any longer, and said disdainfully, "Hey you two, didn't you get married a long time ago? How come you still haven't figured out this thing between men and women? If I didn't tell you, you wouldn't be clueless forever, would you?"
Both men blushed as they thought of their wives.
Lin Weiming got married three years ago. He married the daughter of an official in Qingzhou, but he was not worthy of being the only daughter of a military governor. He married the illegitimate daughter of his superior, Magistrate Hong.
His wife lived a miserable life at her parents' home because of her status as an illegitimate child. She suffered a lot of hardship and grievances. He had seen her once from afar in the back garden of the government office. She was being scolded harshly by her cruel stepmother and was hiding behind the rockery, weeping alone. She noticed his approaching footsteps and immediately turned around fiercely and scolded him: "Go away! Mind your own business!"
How fierce... But when Lin Weiming looked at her, he inexplicably thought of the orchids that grew in the shade and rarely saw sunlight.
She is striving to grow.
He couldn't help but fall for her.
Later, his wife was also casually thrown out by his father as a bargaining chip to win him over. Magistrate Hong, upon hearing that he and the son of Prime Minister Geng were friends who had passed the imperial examinations in the same year, regarded him as a good candidate for son-in-law. He was well aware of his father-in-law's intentions.
After marriage, Lin Weiming knew he wasn't particularly handsome, so he could only offer his wife his whole heart. He knew his wife didn't like him at first, but it was only after spending a long time together that she gradually opened up and gave him her heart through his clumsy acts of kindness. Now... the flowers she arranged on his desk, the needlework she did by the window, were the most comforting solace for him after a long day of working at the government office.
His wife didn't come back to the capital with him this time, which made him miss the cold Qingzhou.
Meng Boyuan's marriage was arranged years ago. The year he passed the imperial examination with flying colors, he celebrated his marriage with great fanfare. Afterward, he happily took his wife to Jinling Prefecture to take up his post. This year, his eldest son can already run around.
This time, when he returned to the capital to report on his duties, he did not bring his wife and children. His wife was pregnant again, and his eldest son was still young, so they all stayed in the official residence in Jinling. At this moment, Meng Boyuan subconsciously touched his cuffs. His clothes for all four seasons, as well as his shoes and socks, were all sewn by his wife. Whenever he missed her, he couldn't help but touch the stitches on them.
Lu Fang rolled his eyes at his two classmates who were suddenly engrossed in their own cozy family life. He was the only one still unmarried; these past few years, he'd spent all his money giving wedding gifts to his friends, leaving his purse completely empty. Even in the harsh, cold land of Lingzhou, matchmakers had come to his door, and his parents had sent portraits of elegant ladies from the capital. But he had politely declined them all. He didn't want to stay in Lingzhou for long, so why burden the local women with the trouble of marrying him far away? As for the woman from the capital, he couldn't return for the time being. Was he supposed to marry a rooster? He'd rather wait until he was transferred back to the capital before making any plans.
However, he felt quite at ease without marriage or family burdens. He once took leave and rode alone across the desert, and even visited several Hu tribes near Yumen Pass. He had seen the long river and the setting sun, the vast sea frozen solid, and the stars hanging low over the boundless plains.
It turns out that the poems written by those great literary figures were not exaggerated at all.
He took in the vast and colorful world.
Lin Weiming and Meng Boyuan finally snapped out of their daze under Lu Fang's undisguised contempt. Meng Boyuan slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "No wonder! When the results were first announced, Cheng Da was always sullen and often stared blankly at the gourd... It turns out it's because Miss Yao is getting married!" He suddenly remembered something and turned to Lu Fang to complain, "It's all your fault! The day Miss Yao's bridal sedan chair left, you were the one crying the loudest, wailing like the heavens. We were so busy pulling your sleeves and covering your mouth that we didn't even notice what kind of face Cheng Da was making!"
Lu Fang blushed. He couldn't help it; he was truly heartbroken back then, his heart was completely broken…
"Oh dear, it's all in the past, why bring it up again? There were plenty of students who admired Miss Yao when they were young!" Lin Weiming waved his hand, more worried about how Cheng Shujun would get past Prime Minister Geng. "Geng Hao is easy to deal with, he's all bark and no bite, but Prime Minister Geng..."
Lin Weiming was somewhat afraid when he talked about Prime Minister Geng. Only after he became an official did he realize how high Prime Minister Geng's status was. He was the "second prime minister" second only to the Chancellor!
Compared to the Geng family, the Cheng family's social standing was far too weak.
Lu Fang pondered for a moment, then smiled: "If we're only talking about family background, I think you're worrying unnecessarily. What kind of person is Prime Minister Geng? In my opinion, Prime Minister Geng is the most pragmatic, flexible, and adept at understanding the Emperor's intentions in the world. He wouldn't marry his daughter to any powerful or influential family other than the royal family. Geng San Niang has two older sisters, right? I remember the Geng family produced one Jieyu (a high-ranking concubine), but who did the other one marry?"
Lin Weiming thought for a moment and nodded: "Madam Geng is a concubine of the emperor, and Second Madam Geng seems to have married a newly appointed scholar, whose family background seems to be quite ordinary."
"That's more like it. Otherwise, he'd be a high-ranking official while we'd be lowly clerks." After six years of training in Lingzhou, Lu Fang had gained a deeper understanding of the turmoil caused by Prime Minister Geng's remarriage.
Was Prime Minister Geng deliberately trying to make a big fuss about it? Was he also deliberately indulging his son and giving the emperor ammunition for his neglect of his duties?
Wouldn't a minister who holds the highest position, is as pure as water and as clear as a mirror, and has no flaws, make the monarch tremble with fear and apprehension? It would be better to occasionally reveal some mundane and harmless "private moral failings," which would allow one to go further in the officialdom.
Moreover, the Geng family was already extremely prominent; if they were to form a marriage alliance with another high-ranking family, wouldn't that be like adding fuel to the fire? This coincided with the Emperor's intention to suppress the aristocratic families and promote those from humble backgrounds… Cheng Shujun was the descendant of a loyal and virtuous man from a poor family, and the only newly appointed scholar to be retained by the Emperor in the Censorate; his future was limitless. How could a shrewd Prime Minister Geng, who could even devise flawless plans for his own son, possibly allow his daughter to become acquainted with Cheng Shujun without tacit approval or even approval?
"Don't worry," Lu Fang said confidently, setting down his teacup. "Prime Minister Geng will definitely take a liking to Cheng Da."
Hearing Lu Fang's words, Lin Weiming and Meng Boyuan exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes. Lu Fang didn't bother to explain further.
He's so tired. Sometimes fools are just lucky...
He saw things most clearly, yet he didn't have the same foolishly smooth career as them. That's why they say everyone has their own destiny. Sigh, I only hope that when I get to Yanzhou and serve under General Yue, I can finally put my skills and insight to good use.
After talking for a while, Geng Hao and Cheng Shujun returned.
This time, Geng Hao's ashen face finally softened considerably. Although his piercing eyes were still tense, they weren't as frightening as before. It's unclear how Cheng Shujun managed to swear an oath to his troublesome brother-in-law, but he finally managed to appease this troublesome fellow.
"Congratulations!" Lu Fang smiled and raised his teacup to him.
"You must have had a long journey?" Cheng Shujun smiled helplessly, finally able to come over and catch up with him properly.
Just then, a long and deep bell rang out from the high walls and deep courtyard of the Imperial College.
"Huh? School's been over for a while now, why is the bell ringing again?" Lu Fang craned his neck in surprise, looking in the direction of the sound. There he saw the gatekeeper, Yu Shouzheng, still carrying his spirited little parrot, guarding the back gate.
The back door was still open, and many students were running in, howling and screaming, their hair disheveled and their robes fluttering, looking quite disheveled.
Lin Weiming and the others, who had arrived a few days earlier, had already witnessed this grand spectacle several times. Now, they stood leisurely with their arms crossed, a knowing, smug smile on their faces, explaining to Lu Fang: "Since we passed the imperial examination, Chief Scholar Feng, following Dr. Zou's suggestion, added 'evening study sessions.' These lads are forced to return to their study rooms every night to do practice problems and homework, euphemistically called 'self-study.' The professors also take turns overseeing the sessions, explaining the difficult points to them."
As dusk settled, a cool breeze blew through the branches of the elm tree by the back gate. Lu Fang's eyes widened as he looked at the younger students who were desperately running towards the back gate, only to be cursed by Yu Shouzhen's birds as "talentless bastards" if they were slow. He was suddenly filled with pity for them.
"How pitiful!" he said, but couldn't help but grin.
Not only him, but everyone else also showed genuine smiles.
They all thought the same thing: Luckily they took the exam early!
Having had enough of admiring the pitiful and disheveled figures of the younger generation, Lu Fang remembered something else and turned to ask Meng Boyuan, "By the way, how is things going with your third brother and Sister Yu? Has he won the heart of his beauty yet?"
Meng Boyuan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets: "How do you know everything?!"
Lu Fang was speechless: "I'm not blind!"
Back in Zhixingzhai, Meng Qingyuan would come to Zhixingzhai every time he had a day off, rain or shine, and would explain problems to the students for free. Whenever he had free time, he would go to talk to Sister Yu under the pretext of helping the students return their books. Lu Fang had long seen through his eagerness!
Meng Boyuan sighed as he thought of his third brother: "Sister Jiuwan...sigh, it seems she's made up her mind not to get married again. She's openly rejected my third brother several times, but he says that if she doesn't want to marry, she doesn't want to marry. He'll just watch over her from afar. My mother is so worried, but what can she do? Everyone has their own destiny!"
The evening breeze rustled through the newly planted bamboo groves in the courtyard, mingling with Meng Boyuan's sighs, which seemed to carry a hint of helplessness.
Lu Fang had gained another fresh and exciting piece of inside information. He nodded with satisfaction. Although he hadn't been able to see Kang Hua and Yao Xiao Niangzi on this trip back to the capital, he had seen Yao Xiao Xiao Niangzi and these friends. This trip was definitely worthwhile!
He was truly happy, so happy… He lowered his eyelashes and smiled.
It will definitely stay in his memory for a very long time...
The group talked until dusk, when the stars began to appear. Even Little Stone, who had been learning boxing from the old master for several years, came over to urge Lin Weiming to come home for dinner. Lu Fang looked with amusement at Little Stone, who had grown into a dark-skinned and sturdy thirteen or fourteen-year-old... oh no, he should be called Lin Weipan now; he already had a proper name.
Pan means big rock. Lin Si Cao's naming is really something. He calls his child Little Stone when he is young, and Big Stone when he grows up. Lu Fang couldn't help but laugh.
Feeling that it wasn't enough, the group then went to Shenji Restaurant for drinks.
The group had booked a private room. They had already finished their long and detailed discussions about their separation. Now, after a few cups of warm rice wine, the warmth spread from their throats to their hearts. Looking at his close friends who had once studied together and were now going their separate ways, Lu Fang felt an indescribable sense of parting.
The moonlight outside the window was hazy, a half-moon as bright as water reflecting the shadows of the still bustling pedestrians in the street, yet his heart felt even more desolate. The past was like smoke, gatherings and partings fleeting; this rare moment of joy before him would likely, in just a few days, be like the wine in this cup, drunk to the last drop, and then everyone would embark on their own long journeys…
But... but...
Lu Fang's eyes reddened, and he and his friends raised their glasses high, clinking them together heavily.
"Each strives in their own way! Though separated by a thousand miles, we share the same wind!"
—The End—
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“Each strives in their own way, and though separated by a thousand miles, they share the same spirit” is from “Sending a Friend Back East” by Zhou Xingji, a scholar of the Song Dynasty.
I originally wanted to write from the perspective of Little Stone growing up, but then I thought that when he returned to the corner store from his childhood, he would inevitably be filled with sadness, since so many years have passed. So I decided to end it from the perspective of the students.
Like the students of the Imperial College, everyone's fate is different, but each person is unique. I really like a quote from the Suzhou Museum: "Follow this arduous journey to reach the stars."
Life may be a difficult journey, but the stars are always ahead.
May everyone gradually reach their own starry sky!
In about a week, I'll update with another bonus chapter. Would you like to see more about married life or "My Grandma"? [Milk Tea]
A huge thank you to all my fans who followed me this far! [crying emoji]
Next time we meet, I hope I'll be walking confidently towards you with two books in hand! [Sprinkling flowers] The two I'm currently working on are "Peaceful Spring Every Year" and "Summer in Lipu." If you're interested, you can check them out in my column! [Patting head] I've also prepared them for pre-order! [Patting head]
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