Chapter 422: It's Good Enough to Be a Good Person

Chapter 422: It's Good Enough to Be a Good Person

After descending the mountain, Chen Chao reappeared at the ferry crossing just as dawn was breaking. The ferryman had arrived early at the riverbank and once again saw this young man in black. Chen Chao silently boarded the ferry, preparing to cross the river.

Glancing around, the ferryman saw that it was still early, and the passengers for the crossing had not appeared yet. He looked at Chen Chao and asked quietly, "Guest isn't in a hurry, right?"

Chen Chao shook his head and sat down at the bow of the boat, gazing into the distance by himself.

The ferryman took a look at Chen Chao. He was free at this moment too, so after thinking about it, he walked over and sat beside Chen Chao, asking, "Have you chosen a good spot?"

Chen Chao nodded but still remained silent.

The ferryman thought for a moment, then pulled out a wine gourd from his waist and offered it to the young man in front of him, asking, "Drink some?"

Chen Chao glanced at the ferryman but did not respond.

The ferryman did not mind, he just took a sip himself before saying, "In this life, we always encounter many regrets, but we still have to live our days. If we keep standing still, there won't be much to live for."

After some thought, Chen Chao reached out, took the wine gourd, and drank a large mouthful. He then realized it was rice wine; tangy and sweet, but it would not make people intoxicated.

The ferryman knew what he was thinking and smiled, saying, "I rely on this for my livelihood, how can I really get drunk?"

Chen Chao replied, "It's quite good."

The ferryman sighed and said, "Actually, I occasionally drink strong liquor too, but only once a month."

Without waiting for Chen Chao to respond, the ferryman chuckled and asked, "You're not a normal person, are you?"

Chen Chao looked at the ferryman, his expression somewhat puzzled.

"I've been ferrying people back and forth at this crossing for many years, seen all kinds of people. My eyes can be considered to have some ability to discern people. I reckon you're one of those so-called martial artists, a type of cultivator, serving in our military or some government office?"

After taking a sip of his drink, the ferryman asked these questions, much more naturally than before.

Chen Chao thought for a moment and replied, "I serve in a government office in the Divine Capital."Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com

The ferryman nodded and smiled, "You have boundless prospects. Given your age, can you become a general in the future?"

"It's hard to say,"

Chen Chao took another sip of the wine. Rice wine was not intoxicating, but its tangy sweetness lingered in his mouth, just like the journey of life.

The ferryman pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "There's something I'm not sure if I should say."

Chen Chao replied, "We're just casually chatting, what can't be said?"

The ferryman chuckled at this and said, "Since that's the case, I'll speak my mind."

Chen Chao said, "I think I understand a little now."

The ferryman said, "I've never been to the Divine Capital, but I've heard that His Majesty is a remarkable person. But even such an extraordinary person couldn't make life very good for us common people. If it's because the Emperor refuses to do anything for us, then of course we would resent him. But if he has already tried his best, done a lot, and yet there are still many things left undone, then we probably wouldn't feel much resentment and would still be grateful to him."

"You and that mother and daughter had already traveled together for some distance. Later, you had your own business to attend to, and they had their own path to walk. Actually, no one owed anyone anything."

"Moreover, you avenged them, right?"

Chen Chao nodded, saying calmly, "I killed many people."

He also recalled the words of the bookstore owner.

"Were they all bad people?"

The ferryman asked.

"They were all bad people."

The ferryman said, "In that case, you have even less reason to feel guilty. You couldn't help that mother and daughter avoid danger, but it seems you helped many others... What's that idiom again? I can't remember it," the ferryman said.

Chen Chao was silent.

The ferryman got up and said, "Let's not wait any longer. I'll send you across the river."

Chen Chao looked at the ferryman with some confusion.

"Waiting until the boat is full would naturally be the most profitable. To me, ferrying you alone is just earning a little less money. It's not very worthwhile to make this trip, but I can accept it. Besides, you've done some good deeds, so I feel it's even more worthwhile."

The ferryman chuckled, "I'm sending a good official."

Chen Chao furrowed his brow, unsure of what to say.

But the ferryman had already begun paddling the boat across the river.

Afterward, the two did not speak.

It was not until the ferry reached the opposite bank that the ferryman docked the boat at the ferry crossing, and Chen Chao stood up to disembark.

Suddenly, the ferryman said, "I have one last thing to say. If you don't mind, I'd like to share it with you."

Chen Chao nodded, "Please say."

The ferryman pondered for a moment before saying softly, "I don't remember it very clearly, but this is something a scholar once told me. The general meaning of it is that if an official fulfills their duties well, they're already a good official. But if they can do more beyond their duties, that's even better. However, even if they can't do something outside of their scope of duties, they shouldn't feel guilty or be criticized by others."

The ferryman recalled carefully, then added somewhat uncertainly, "I think he also said, 'As long as you're a good person, that's good enough.'"