Manager Zhuang did not ask Chen Changsheng what he was going to do. Such a person who showed up out of nowhere in Qingshan City was not someone he should question much.

That day, Manager Zhuang took out a writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to write a letter. He gave it to Chen Changsheng and pressed a red seal onto it.

“What is this?” Chen Changsheng was a bit confused.

Manager Zhuang said, “If sir has any trouble, as long as it’s in the Southern Region, whether in Da Xiang or Western Xiao, sir can go to Tang’s Trading Company. Just show this letter to the local manager, and someone will help sir.”

After hearing this, Chen Changsheng paused for a moment. He took the letter.

“Thank you, manager.”

Manager Zhuang let out a sigh and said, “If sir comes back to Qingshan City, will sir still tell stories?”

Chen Changsheng thought for a while and smiled, “Of course.”

Manager Zhuang also smiled. Then he walked Chen Changsheng out the door.

…

In the next three days, Mr. Chen still told stories in the morning as usual. In the afternoon, he taught Jin San and Cao Fa.

Chen Changsheng knew he could not teach them much in just a few days. But once something got started, the rest became a lot easier later on.

As it got dark, Chen Changsheng walked toward Chuanfeng Lane.

Wang Sanniang had made sweet soup that day; it was small rice balls with sweet fermented rice. Eaten cold, it tasted very good and sweet.

Ruyi seemed to love eating this sweet soup. She ate two bowls in a row, and her belly was full and round.

Chen Changsheng said, “Eat slower, or you won’t digest it well.”

“I won’t eat now, I can’t eat anymore…” Ruyi patted her belly. She looked at the bowl of sweet soup and licked her lips; she felt it was not quite enough.

It was really yummy, she wished she could eat this every day.

Wang Sanniang said, “If you want it, I’ll make it again tomorrow.”

“Really?!”

“Why would I lie to you?”

Ruyi squinted her eyes and smiled. She hugged her mother and said, “Mother is the best.”

Seeing Ruyi’s sweet look, Chen Changsheng could not help but smile too.

After finishing the soup, Chen Changsheng brought up his plan to leave.

Hearing this, Wang Sanniang was surprised, “Brother Chen is leaving?”

Chen Changsheng nodded and said, “I’m going outside; I won’t be back for a short while.”

Wang Sanniang did not seem too shocked. She said, “Uncle Lou mentioned it to me before…”

Ruyi and Ping An both looked up together.

“Uncle Chen is leaving? Going where?” Ruyi asked.

“Outside of Abyss River,” Chen Changsheng said with a smile.

Ping An did not understand, “Where is Abyss River?”

Ruyi explained to him, “Abyss River is where we are; it’s the mountains outside the town.”

Ping An was still confused and looked blankly at his elder sister.

Seeing she could not explain it well, Ruyi said, “Anyway, it means mister is leaving and won’t be here.”

Hearing this, Ping An froze a little. He turned to Chen Changsheng and said, “Can Ping An still come to Uncle Chen’s to learn writing?”

“Maybe I can when I come back,” Chen Changsheng said.

Ruyi asked, “How long will mister be gone?”

“Three years.”

“That’s so long…”

Ruyi muttered, lost in thought for a moment.

She thought even a few days felt like forever.

“Can Uncle Chen not go?” Ruyi asked.

Chen Changsheng patted her head and said, “I don’t want to go either, but uncle has no choice.”

Ruyi lowered her head, her heart full of sadness.

Ping An just sat there dazed. Even though he knew more than other kids his age, he still did not understand what farewell really meant.

But he knew his heart felt bad.

It was like when Grandpa Lou left before.

Both little ones hung their heads quietly, without their usual cheer.

Ruyi whispered, “Is it because Ruyi ate too much sweet soup that Uncle Chen has to go? Ruyi won’t be greedy with food from now on…”

Chen Changsheng’s heart paused. He wanted to say something, but he just did not know how to make such a young child understand.

After a long pause, he only said one thing.

“Of course not…”

…

It got dark, and the yard turned quiet.

Chen Changsheng sat in the yard looking at his book. He did not turn a page for a long time; clearly, his mind was not on the book.

As usual, he sat there till dawn.

But what was different from other days was that there was no wine by his side. At that hour, the wine shop was likely closed, so even if he went, he could not find any.

In the next three days, Ruyi and Ping An were much more well-behaved.

Ping An, who used to be quiet, started talking a lot more.

He asked many random questions, just for a chance to talk more with Uncle Chen.

Ruyi started learning letters much more seriously, without any laziness.

Cao Fa went as usual to invite mister to tell stories.

“Mister…”

Chen Changsheng noticed Cao Fa’s voice was a bit hoarse. So he said, “How long did you practice on the way back last night? Your voice is hoarse.”

Cao Fa laughed and said, “I’m just practicing; you always have to put in some hard work. It’ll be fine in a few days. No big deal.”

“That won’t do.”

Chen Changsheng took Cao Fa to see Doctor Wang there.

“Please take a look at him, Doctor Wang. He needs this mouth to make a living from on. He cannot be hoarse.”

Doctor Wang gave him some medicine and told Cao Fa to take care of himself.

Then he asked Chen Changsheng to stay to eat noodles.

Chen Changsheng sat and ate a bowl, praising how tasty the noodles were getting.

Cao Fa also got a bowl. After tasting it, he was shocked.

‘No wonder mister always eats this noodle.’

Now he finally understood why.

Doctor Wang then said, “The noodle shop will open on the nineteenth. Sir must come and try it then.”

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng said, “The nineteenth… I might not make it.”

Doctor Wang paused, “Miss it?”

Chen Changsheng explained at once about his plan to leave.

After hearing it, Doctor Wang felt very sorry. He sighed and said, “Without Mr. Chen, there would be no noodle shop. Without Mr. Chen, the taste of these noodles won’t be as good as before.”

“It’s not that big a deal.” Chen Changsheng just smiled and said, “Eat noodles.”

After finishing the noodles, Chen Changsheng took Cao Fa to the teahouse.

Cao Fa almost spoke up a few times. Only when they neared the teahouse did he finally ask.

“Mister…”

Chen Changsheng stopped walking and turned to look at him.

Cao Fa said, “If mister is leaving, why not take me along? I can help on the road. I’m good at getting tea and water.”

Chen Changsheng said, “Would you come with me even if there’s no food?”

Cao Fa looked firm and said one word, “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Mister, I, Cao Fa, am just a worker. Few people think highly of me. I know I don’t have the luck of someone great, but mister was willing to teach me. For that kindness, I would do anything.”

As he spoke, Cao Fa was not his usual flattering self. Instead, he was calm.

Now it seemed he was not that timid worker…

but his true self.

After a moment.

The mister only said calmly.

“Keep practicing. When you go on stage later, you will be Master Cao.”