Doctor Wang had several people taste these noodles, and all of them couldn’t stop praising it. They kept asking how it was made, as it smelled incredibly fragrant.

Doctor Wang was ecstatic. His steps were much lighter on the way back.

Although he often said he knew good food when he tasted it, earning everyone else’s approval was just as important. Only then could he truly claim to be knowledgeable about food.

Doctor Wang thanked him, “I’m so grateful, Mr. Chen.”

Chen Changsheng smiled, “You flatter me, Doctor Wang.”

“Ah, look at me! Have you eaten yet, Mr. Chen? Come on, come to my place!”

Doctor Wang pulled Chen Changsheng back to his clinic. He made two bowls of noodles exactly like before.

The two sat at the clinic entrance, eating the noodles.

Chen Changsheng ate with great relish. He asked Doctor Wang to make another two small bowls to take back.

Chen Changsheng said, “I shouldn’t take these noodles without paying. I ought to give you something.”

Eating one bowl himself was fine, but taking extra back made him feel embarrassed.

Doctor Wang waved it off. “Mr. Chen, how could I accept your money? Take it back, take it back!”

Doctor Wang absolutely refused the money. He then got a large bowl and filled it with noodles for Chen Changsheng to take home.

“Thank you, Doctor Wang.”

“No trouble at all! Remember to come for noodles tomorrow morning.”

“Sure.”

Chen Changsheng agreed with a smile and carried the bowl back to his courtyard.

The two children were practicing writing in the yard.

Chen Changsheng pushed the door open and entered. “Come quickly! Have some noodles.”

Ruyi and Ping’an gathered around.

Chen Changsheng fetched two small bowls from the kitchen and divided the noodles for Ruyi and Ping’an.

Having known him longer now, they weren’t as shy as before. Ruyi had felt awkward at first, but now she accepted his kindness gladly. She knew she couldn’t refuse Uncle Chen’s goodwill.

Soon, the sounds of loud noodle-slurping filled the courtyard.

Ruyi kept gobbling down noodles. Although her mother often cooked noodles before, she had never tasted noodles this delicious.

Ping’an took one bite and then started wolfing the noodles down, eating very messily.

The children ate the noodles and drank the broth. Greasy stains dotted the corners of their mouths.

It seemed Doctor Wang used quite a bit of fat oil in his broth. Getting any oil was rare these days.

“Leave the rest for your mother,” Chen Changsheng said.

“Okay~”

Ruyi and Ping’an agreed and immediately buried their heads back into their bowls.

Chen Changsheng chuckled. “Slow down.”

After scooping the remaining noodles into another bowl to save, Chen Changsheng returned the empty bowl to Doctor Wang.

After all, such a large ceramic bowl wasn’t cheap.

Doctor Wang took the bowl and chatted with Chen Changsheng.

He said he wanted to open a noodle shop.

Chen Changsheng asked, “But will you have the time?”

Doctor Wang replied, “I have a son. I wanted him to learn medicine with me, but his mind just wasn’t sharp enough. He gave up after a few days. He’s twenty-four years old now. He can’t just do nothing forever.”

Chen Changsheng said, “True. Where are you thinking of setting up shop?”

“Don’t know yet,” Doctor Wang answered. “Need to ask around and see if anyone knows of an empty store.”

“I’m going to the teahouse tomorrow. I can help you ask,” Chen Changsheng offered.

“How could I trouble you like this? No, no…”

“It’s nothing much, really. No trouble at all.”

Doctor Wang was embarrassed. Chen Changsheng had already helped him enormously. But hearing Chen Changsheng insist, he couldn’t refuse his kindness again. He simply thanked him profusely.

“Mr. Chen, if you ever crave noodles again, come find me. And of course, if you feel unwell, you can come too.”

“It’s settled then.”

…

The next morning, Clerk Cao came to fetch Chen Changsheng for the teahouse.

On the way, Chen Changsheng inquired.

Clerk Cao mused, “A store…”

He thought for a moment. “You could ask the Manager first. If that doesn’t work, you’d have to check with Third Master Jin. He owns about forty percent of the storefronts on our street.”

“If you approach Third Master Jin directly, it might be simpler, but you’d likely owe him a favor. That might get messy. Better if the Manager can arrange it.”

“I see…”

Chen Changsheng understood this logic. So, he decided to approach Manager Zhuang first.

Hearing Chen Changsheng needed a store to rent, Manager Zhuang said, “Renting a store? There is an empty one, just a bit small.”

“A small spot would do. Once free around noon, could you show it to me?” Chen Changsheng inquired.

“Of course.”

At noon, they examined the store. It truly wasn’t large, but big enough for a noodle shop.

Manager Zhuang said, “If you need this store, please use it. No need for any rent.”

“No rent?” Chen Changsheng was stunned.

Manager Zhuang explained, “It belongs our Proprietor.”

“I’m helping a friend rent it. That probably won’t be appropriate.”

“Your friends are my friends. Besides, this place has been empty for ages. And our Proprietor owns many more stores. See right here? Half the stores on this entire street belong to him.”

Chen Changsheng paused. “But Clerk Cao said most street stores belong to the Jin family.”

Manager Zhuang laughed. “The Jins can’t compare to our Proprietor. The staff just don’t know the full picture.”

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng became curious. “Speaking of which, I’ve been at this teahouse for some time but haven’t met our Proprietor.”

Manager Zhuang sighed. “Our Proprietor isn’t in Abyss River…”

“Not in Abyss River?” Chen Changsheng was startled.

Manager Zhuang nodded but didn’t elaborate.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng stopped pushing. He decided it was best for him to pretend he didn’t notice.

Who the Proprietor was didn’t matter anyway. He was just a storyteller.

…

Chen Changsheng went back and told Doctor Wang about it.

Doctor Wang was taken aback. “No, no! The rent must be fully paid! How could you owe somebody such a big favor for me?”

Chen Changsheng insisted it was fine, but Doctor Wang was adamant. He then accompanied Doctor Wang to see the store, which Doctor Wang liked very much.

Doctor Wang didn’t know the exact rent. He simply guessed an amount and handed the money to Chen Changsheng.

“No need for such formality, Doctor Wang, really…” Chen Changsheng smiled helplessly.

“Mr. Chen, you absolutely must take it!”

Doctor Wang was stern. Left with no choice, Chen Changsheng accepted, figuring he could just pass the money along to Manager Zhuang later. He wouldn’t profit from this.

With that, the store arrangement was settled. The noodle shop might open in just a few days.

Chen Changsheng returned home and began teaching Ping’an and Ruyi how to write.

Night fell, and Chen Changsheng sat alone in the courtyard.

He sat idle until midnight.

Suddenly, Chen Changsheng froze.

Perhaps the recent peaceful days made him forget something important.

His time was running out…

He looked at his Soul Flame. It was even dimmer than before.

Chen Changsheng roughly calculated. At most… ten days remained…

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

After a moment, only a helpless sigh escaped him into the quiet courtyard.