Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 951 - 466: Life (Part 8)

Under normal circumstances, Qin Huai should wait until finishing this meal to return to the hotel, using the excuse of needing to go to the bathroom, where he would sit on the hotel toilet and watch the final segment of Zhao Cheng'an's dream.

But now is not a normal situation.

Because Fen Garden also has a bathroom.

Qin Huai hasn't yet experienced the toilet at the legendary first private restaurant in Beiping; missing out would be a real pity.

There's no need for Zhang Guanghang to show the way, the bathroom is located just behind the private room, Qin Huai saw the sign on the wall indicating the direction when he entered the private room.

Qin Huai took one glance at Zhao Cheng'an, who was evenly distributing raindrops with a bite of white flour bun, a bite of yam cake, and a bite of rice cake. He thought Zhao Cheng'an would eat for a while longer, and he could first look at the memory.

That's what Qin Huai thought, and that's what he did.

Qin Huai silently stood up: "You continue eating, I'm going to the bathroom."

Zhao Cheng'an, suspecting nothing, replied: "Okay, okay, do you know where the bathroom is? I think I saw it when I came in, it seems to be behind."

"I saw it too, take your time eating and don't choke," Qin Huai left with a note of concern and headed straight outside.

The bathroom wasn't very far from the private room, about 15 meters away, with decent decor, blending retro with modernity, probably refurbished from Fen Garden's original bathroom, a single-stall bathroom.

Qin Huai closed the door, locked it, opened the game panel, and selected [A segment of Zhao Cheng'an's dream].

Thinking about seeing the last segment of Zhao Cheng'an's dream soon, Qin Huai felt a bit excited; it had been a long time since he was able to watch the same spirit's memory in such a smooth and continuous way.

Qin Huai clicked yes.

[Loading the dream——]

.

A hundred years ago, Beiping City's night was very dark.

Using the phrase "can't see one's fingers" to describe it is not an exaggeration; no matter how bright the moonlight, it's hard for it to illuminate faces like sunlight does, especially for the poor who suffered from night blindness due to chronic vitamin deficiency. Even with lamps lit outside, it was hard to see clearly.

Because the flame of the candles was too faint.

Under the faint candlelight, Qin Huai saw the expression on Chen Qiusheng's family's faces.

Chen Ping'an held a lantern, not to illuminate people, but held it low, illuminating Chen Qiusheng's hands counting money and the small cloth pouch Zhao Cheng'an was holding.

This time should be summer, Chen Qiusheng, Chen Ping'an, Zhao Cheng'an, and Xia Mubing were all wearing short shirts, Xia Mubing had several bundles on his back and seemed to be going on a long journey, while the other three carried nothing except Zhao Cheng'an, who had a small cloth pouch that looked more like a sachet in his hands.

Chen Qiusheng was bent over counting money, a big pile of it, all sorts, silver coins, copper coins, broken silver, British pounds, foreign currency, some intact, some damaged. Using the lantern's faint light, Chen Qiusheng arranged these chaotic coins neatly, stuffing them all into the small sachet Zhao Cheng'an held, then asked Xia Mubing to take off his shoes and stuffed the small sachet into his shoe soles.

"The outside world is chaotic now, the area outside the border has fallen, and it's said the south is not very peaceful either. The Li Mansion bought tickets half a month ago for the whole family to go to Jinling. With the devils approaching Langfang, Beiping cannot stay, and I don't know if Jinling is safe, but since the Li Family has gone there, Jinling must be safer than Beiping now."

"Mu Rui, you should first follow Uncle Liu to Jinling, and don't write a letter back reporting safety when you arrive. You are smart, prioritize your own safety, and if Jinling is found not to be safe, then keep running south. I've already given a sum of money to Uncle Liu; keep this money hidden for emergencies." Chen Qiusheng muttered, worriedly feeling the short shirt on Xia Mubing, "It's July now, originally, I should've sent you with winter clothes too. But with the chaos outside, carrying too much could risk robbery; I can't dare send you with too many good clothes. The south is ultimately warmer than Beiping, winters come later; once things settle, then you can buy cotton clothes yourself."

"If you encounter robbers, don't fight back; saving your life is more important than anything in this world... as long as you can live." Chen Qiusheng talked like a nagging father, wanting to pack everything for Xia Mubing yet afraid to send him with too much.

"Father, it's almost midnight. Xia Mubing should leave, Uncle Liu said the convoy won't wait, if he doesn't leave town tonight, it will be hard to leave later." Chen Ping'an reminded, holding a lantern, the candle illuminated his face most clearly, revealing his pale complexion, lips still lacking blood color, a sickly appearance, and a very thin figure.

This timeline, compared to last, obviously passed a few more years. Chen Ping'an had fully matured into an adult's form but hadn't grown much taller, indicating his health was still poor. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Yes, yes, yes." Chen Qiusheng hurriedly urged Xia Mubing, "Quickly go, don't miss it."

Xia Mubing showed rare reluctance, glanced at Chen Qiusheng, then at Chen Ping'an, and said, "Master, let's go together."

Chen Qiusheng waved his hand: "Ping'an's health is poor, he needs medicine every day; he can't stand the strain of long travels. If tickets had been bought a month earlier, he could have left town, but now it's too late, you must go without further delay, or you'll miss the convoy out."

"Yes, don't worry, Master Chen and Ping'an have me. Don't you trust my skills? We won't starve, even if the devils come and loot everything from our home, the room the Li Mansion left us still has a cellar, doesn't it? We'll hide in the cellar, and at night I'll go out and steal food; I'll definitely keep Master Chen and Ping'an well-fed!" Zhao Cheng'an assured, patting his chest.