Yan Huanglou went to the street early in the morning and set up his Tea Stall.

Compared to yesterday, he looked much better. After setting up his stall, he lit a fire and started cooking Plain Congee.

He watched the street and saw Government Officers patrolling from time to time. This was not how it had been before, so he thought something must have happened in the city.

Just then, some Government Officers who were off duty came for tea.

Yan Huanglou served the tea and heard the officers at the table talking.

“I am so tired.”

“Me too. Because of this one thing, we have to patrol day and night now. The Yamen (Government Office) doesn’t have enough people, sigh, it’s really…”

“Let’s drink tea.”

While bringing the tea, Yan Huanglou took the chance to ask, “You two sirs, what happened in the city?”

“Old Huang, you don’t know?” an officer asked.

Yan Huanglou said, “I was sick these two days and didn’t come to set up my stall.”

After hearing this, an officer said, “Just yesterday, the Manager at the Shi family pawn shop on this street had his hands cut off. The Old Manager fainted right away. It happened right on the street! How dare they look down on us!”

After hearing this, Yan Huanglou was shocked. He murmured, “The Shi family pawn shop…”

Clearly, he knew it.

An officer said, “It’s not too far away, so you must know it.”

“Ah.” Yan Huanglou came back to his senses and nodded, “I do know the Old Manager of the pawn shop.”

Another officer said, “This is strange. The Manager had his hands cut off but he survived. When asked who did it, he said he didn’t know anything. Even the Old Manager was like that, unable to say who did it.”

Yan Huanglou exclaimed, “How… strange is that?”

An officer drank some tea and said, “Yes, he probably offended someone. But from how it was done, it looks like Jianghu People. Otherwise, it might not have just been cutting hands.”

Yan Huanglou seemed to guess something vaguely. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn’t ask.

An officer waved his hand and said, “Let’s not talk about this, it makes me feel bad. Until we catch the person, we have to keep patrolling. It will be exhausting.”

The two officers sat quietly and drank tea. After finishing this cup, they had to go back and report. Tired in body and mind, they didn’t want to say more.

Seeing this, Yan Huanglou didn’t speak either. He seemed quiet. After the two officers left, he sat on the long bench and thought for a long time.

He remembered the bloodstain on Chen Changsheng’s robe from yesterday.

For a good while, he couldn’t snap out of it.

“Gurgle gurgle.”

The Plain Congee in the pot bubbled loudly.

Yan Huanglou slowly came back to his senses. Then he went to the Plain Congee and adjusted the fire.

He lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking about.

About a quarter of an hour later.

Someone came into the Tea Stall.

“Today’s congee looks a bit off.”

Yan Huanglou looked up and saw the Man in Blue Robe enter the Tea Stall and sit down.

Yan Huanglou opened his mouth. He wanted to ask something.

But like before, he didn’t say it out loud.

He only said one thing.

“Thank you.”

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng said, “If you don’t watch the fire soon, the Plain Congee really won’t be drinkable.”

Yan Huanglou paused for a moment. He laughed helplessly and said, “Fine, I’ll cook it well for you.”

Chen Changsheng smiled, then sat quietly waiting for the Plain Congee to be done.

Soon after, two bowls of hot congee were brought to the table.

Chen Changsheng took a sip and said, “It’s so thick you could almost eat it like rice.”

“Will you drink it?” Yan Huanglou asked.

“Yes.”

Chen Changsheng took a sip, then took out a Folding Fan from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

“Thud.”

When Yan Huanglou saw that Folding Fan, he couldn’t help but pause.

Chen Changsheng looked up and said, “You saved for so many years, just for this fan, right?”

He shook his head and added, “You’re silly. You kept going to the pawn shop to peek. The Old Manager is a decent person, but his son is greedy for money. You went too much, so he guessed you had some silver.”

The Plain Congee in the bowl steamed.

Yan Huanglou looked at the Folding Fan and didn’t move for a long time.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Dare not take it?”

Yan Huanglou came back to his senses. He pressed his lips, not knowing what to say.

After a while.

Yan Huanglou looked up and said, “Wait for me.”

Saying this, he stood up and walked out of the Tea Stall.

Chen Changsheng watched him but didn’t know where he was going.

But he saw the old man run out in a hurry. Even though his legs were a bit weak, he pushed on and ran toward outside the city.

Chen Changsheng drank his congee on his own and sat waiting.

The Folding Fan on the table sat quietly there.

About half an hour passed.

The person returned.

Yan Huanglou was muddy. His robe had a hole at the knee, as if he had fallen somewhere. He walked with a limp.

He struggled to reach the table and caught his breath a little.

“Thud.”

He placed a pouch filled with silver on the table.

“Seventy-eight taels and three hundred twenty-nine Copper Coins.”

He reached into his chest and took out two more Copper Coins, saying, “Plus the two coins from this morning’s tea.”

“All together…”

“Seventy-eight taels and three hundred thirty-one Copper Coins.”

Chen Changsheng looked at the pouch on the table and the two Copper Coins beside.

“How come?” Chen Changsheng said.

Yan Huanglou didn’t answer. Instead, his legs gave way and he knelt down.

“I once made a promise to kneel only to my teacher. Today is an exception, and I kneel to you.”

“Accept my bow!”

Saying this, Yan Huanglou bowed down low.

His forehead touched the ground. When he got up, his forehead had a little dust on it.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng only said calmly, “Done bowing?”

Hearing this, Yan Huanglou paused for a moment.

Chen Changsheng then added, “After you’re done bowing, hurry up and make tea. Your Plain Congee is too thick, and it made me thirsty.”

Yan Huanglou was silent.

He looked at Chen Changsheng and thought for a long time.

He didn’t know why…

He even felt regret!

Yan Huanglou stood up grumpily and went to make tea.

Chen Changsheng smiled and said, “Hey, I don’t mind if you bow one more time.”

Yan Huanglou bit his tongue and said, “Wishful thinking!”

He brought the tea up.

“Tea!” Yan Huanglou just said this and sat down.

Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, “Not pouring it?”

Yan Huanglou glared at him in annoyance, then poured the tea.

Chen Changsheng took a sip and smacked his lips. “This tea is weak.”

“Take it or leave it.”

“What kind of talk is that? I helped you big time, and this is your attitude?”

Yan Huanglou twitched his mouth. Calmly, he said, “Fine, I’ll make you a fresh pot.”

This time, after tasting it, Chen Changsheng nodded. “This is better now.”

Yan Huanglou looked at him, shook his head, and muttered, “How can there be someone like you?”