Manager Zhuang told Chen Changsheng where the Proprietor lived.
Chen Changsheng was a bit surprised after hearing it; the Proprietor also lived in Chuanfeng Alley, right across from the small courtyard.
Chen Changsheng rembered hearing from Yan Huanglou years ago that those people were beaten to death by the Righteous Army because they didn’t find any silver during their search for wealth, and after that, the courtyard stayed empty.
Chen Changsheng felt puzzled and asked, “Since it’s across the door, why didn’t the Proprietor co to see yesterday?”
Manager Zhuang coughed lightly twice and said, “The Proprietor said that you have to go see the Proprietor…”
Chen Changsheng paused for a mont after hearing it; he didn’t feel offended, so he smiled and said, “That’s fine.”
He also wanted to see this Proprietor he had never t.
But not now; he would wait until he went back first.
This morning, he only drank one cup of tea, and his stomach was empty, so he needed to eat sothing.
After saying goodbye to Manager Zhuang,
Chen Changsheng left the Teahouse.
As soon as he stepped out of the teahouse door, he saw a figure standing at the entrance.
“You haven’t left yet, Brother Tao?”
Tao Sheng paused at the sound from behind and quickly said, “Greetings, Mr. Chen!”
Chen Changsheng waved his hand and said, “No need to be polite. It’s better to call Brother Chen.”
Tao Sheng said with a mix of tears and laughter, “Brother Chen, you sure hid it from badly!”
“Brother Tao didn’t ask either.”
“Sigh, my fault.”
Chen Changsheng gave a kind smile and then asked, “Waiting for soone here?”
Tao Sheng shook his head and said, “That has to be blad on Brother Chen. If you hadn’t hidden the truth, why would I be daydreaming at the teahouse entrance?”
“That makes sense.” Chen Changsheng smiled and said, “Then how about I treat Brother Tao to so breakfast?”
Tao Sheng said quickly, “No, no, it should be treating Brother Chen. Earlier, I thought Brother Chen was an old man, so I need to make it right.”
“There isn’t so much to fuss about.”
Chen Changsheng said that, and then added, “Co on, let’s find a place.”
“After you, Brother Chen.”
Chen Changsheng took Tao Sheng to another street.
He thought he recalled a noodle shop on this street, but he wasn’t sure if it had opened back then.
Tao Sheng said, “Brother Chen, aren’t you going to the Baixiang Noodle Shop?”
“Don’t know the na yet. I’ll know when I see it.”
“Huh?”
Tao Sheng felt confused but followed Chen Changsheng as he walked forward.
After about a hundred steps, Chen Changsheng stopped in front of a noodle shop.
Before getting close, he slled a strong, mouth-watering sll drifting over; it was the aty broth mixed with thick spices.
And the shop’s sign said “Baixiang”.
Tao Sheng said, “Brother Chen, you know how to eat!”
“What counts as knowing how to eat?” Chen Changsheng asked.
Tao Sheng explained, “Qingshan City used to have two special things: one was Green Mountain stretching far away, and the other was the many terraced fields. But a few years back, another special thing was added—the Baixiang Noodles, which slled amazing and tasted great!”
“Many Baixiang Noodles shops have opened in these past years, but the most delicious one is still this Baixiang Noodle Shop, the very first one in Qingshan City.”
“Is it really that special? Better than Green Mountain and the terraced fields?” Chen asked.
Tao Sheng said, “To be honest, Brother Chen, I love good food, and to , it’s even better!”
“Then we must try it.”
Chen Changsheng looked around and saw the noodle shop was packed with people.
Outside, small stools were set up, and many were sitting there eating noodles from their bowls.
“Brother Chen, co quick, there’s an empty seat here.”
After sitting down, a waiter ca over to ask how many liang of noodles they wanted.
Tao Sheng asked for three liang, and Chen Changsheng asked for two liang.
In just a short bit, the noodles were served.
After tasting it, Chen Changsheng felt a thrill; the flavor was better than what Doctor Wang made long ago, probably because they improved the spices.
It really was great!
As a true food lover, Tao Sheng took one big bite with two liang in his mouth, chewed it all a long while, and finally swallowed it.
People could say his eating manner was ugly!
Chen Changsheng didn’t know whether to cry or laugh, saying, “Brother Tao, what…”
Tao Sheng said, “To eat noodles, you need big mouthfuls, or how will you enjoy them?”
“True!”
And so, outside the noodle shop door, there stood one more Green-Robed Gentleman with ugly table manners.
After downing three liang, Tao Sheng still wasn’t satisfied, so he asked the waiter to make another two liang.
With the soup, he finally felt full.
Chen Changsheng couldn’t help but feel a bit in awe, since he could never eat five liang of noodles himself.
Tao Sheng breathed out and said, “This Baixiang Noodles was made by a doctor who got tips from soone. Later, he taught it to his son, who runs the Baixiang Noodle Shop now, so we have this taste.”
“It’s Doctor Wang from Chuanfeng Alley, right?” Chen Changsheng said.
“Brother Chen, you know?”
“I live in Chuanfeng Alley.”
“Oh, I see.”
Tao Sheng said, “Then doesn’t that an Brother Chen must have tried these noodles before?”
“I did three years ago, but the taste wasn’t as good as now.”
Chen Changsheng then asked, “Anyway, how is Doctor Wang now?”
Tao Sheng found it a bit odd and asked, “Brother Chen doesn’t know?”
“What?”
“Doctor Wang passed away the year before last.”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng suddenly stopped.
He couldn’t say a word for a while.
Tao Sheng also sensed sothing was wrong and asked, “Was Brother Chen friendly with Doctor Wang?”
Chen Changsheng made a smacking sound and said, “Sort of. Back in the day, he often treated to noodles.”
“I said too much. Brother Chen, forgive .”
“It’s fine.”
Tao Sheng secretly felt bad; he thought to himself that he was no good at holding back his big mouth, and couldn’t help but sigh.
After that, he clearly saw that Brother Chen spoke much less and just quietly ate noodles.
In Chen Changsheng’s mind, this wasn’t too hard to take.
It was only because he found out so suddenly.
That’s why he seed a bit quiet.
Only after finishing eating did Chen Changsheng ask one thing.
“Why did he pass?”
Tao Sheng paused a mont before saying, “After a snow fell, a cold wind blew and he couldn’t hold out.”
“…”
Then there was silence again.
Chen Changsheng then got up to pay the bill.
“I’ll pay.”
But Tao Sheng held him back and rushed to pay.
He wouldn’t feel right if he didn’t pay that bill.
Tao Sheng walked Chen Changsheng a bit, and when parting on the street corner, he shook his head and sighed.
“This bad mouth of mine just causes trouble day after day.”
……
Chen Changsheng went back to Chuanfeng Alley.
He glanced at the pharmacy and only then noticed that soone else was inside.
He went in to look and saw a middle-aged man in plain clothes sitting in the dicine shop.
“Are you here for dicine?” the man asked.
Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, “I haven’t been back for many years. I rember Doctor Wang was here before. Now…”
The man looked Chen Changsheng over carefully.
“Could you be… Mr. Chen?”
“I am.”
“Please co in!”
Only after sitting down did he hear the explanation.
The person running the shop now was surnad Lü, the brother-in-law of Doctor Wang. After Doctor Wang passed away that year, the shop shut down. But Doctor Wang’s son didn’t want it closed, and since he was too busy himself, he asked his uncle to co run it, so it stayed open till now.
“My brother-in-law said before he left, ‘Mr. Chen gave big kindness to the Wang family. After he cos back, treat him with respect.'”
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