Over the next few days, Lu Ling drove the carriage while Shurui solicited passengers. They picked up some travelers along the way, earning a few copper coins—enough for their provisions and the donkey’s feed.
Ten days later, nearing noon, Shurui finally completed nearly a month’s journey and arrived at Chaoxi Prefecture.
Travelers were dust-covered, while the city bustled and orderly, with fine carriages passing by—a lively, prosperous scene.
Shurui observed from the donkey carriage. Returning to the place of his childhood felt familiar yet strange.
Chaoxi Prefecture had always seemed lively, but after over a decade, shops lined the streets, alleys crisscrossed intricately, and while the old town layout remained, it seemed even more prosperous.
Yet his parents were no longer alive.
A surge of emotions filled Shurui. These years, he had learned to rely on himself and rarely thought of them. Returning now, the long-hidden longing in his heart poured out uncontrollably like a jar of aged wine, filling him with an inescapable ache.
His thoughts churned, emotions sinking.
Beside him, Lu Ling slowed the carriage. “Why aren’t you happy now that we’re in the city?”
Shurui composed himself, feigning indifference. “I’m not unhappy—just not used to seeing such a bustling scene all of a sudden.”
Lu Ling was silent for a moment. “Then are you going to the latrine?”
“…”
“You should’ve listened and drunk less of that unboiled stream water.”
Shurui couldn’t help but scold him. Then he added, “Go ahead, I’ll wait here…”
He wanted to say he’d wait, but saw officers patrolling the streets ahead. Carriages couldn’t stop freely, and finding a place to park would cost coins.
“Shall I go ahead and you follow when you’re done?”
Shurui suggested, “I’ll be at the fifth shop on Shili Street. Can you find it?”
Lu Ling leaped down nimbly. “Yes.”
A few steps out, he suddenly stopped, squinting at Shurui. “A-Shao, even if you run, I’ll still find you.”
Shurui glanced at him, pulled the donkey toward the shop, and ignored him.
This seemingly honest young man was actually cunning.
A few days back, during their journey at the inn, they’d argued whether they were husband and wife. Shurui, annoyed, had driven off while Lu Ling went to the latrine. Who knew Lu Ling had run faster than the donkey, somehow sneaking ahead, hiding in the trees, and jumping onto the carriage as Shurui passed—nearly overturning it!
Shurui, fuming over the incident, finally arrived at the destination.
The shop left by his uncle and aunt was on a side street of North Fourth Avenue in the city.
At the street entrance stood a tall marble arch, weathered with moss and streaked black from rainwater, yet the three large characters “Shili Street” were still clear.
The shop was near the arch, on the left-hand side of the entrance—the fifth one.
Shurui, visiting for the first time, checked twice, scanned the street, and only when certain it was the right spot did he stop the carriage.
In front of the locked, dilapidated shop was a stew stall. A brazier pressed against the wall boiled a pot of soup, white steam rising with a strong, fishy smell.
He didn’t know how long the stall had been there. The wall behind the brazier was charred as if burnt by coals.
Business seemed slow. An old man with yellowed teeth, sitting idly on a small stool, noticed Shurui and got up.
“Sir, I have mutton and pork offal soup! Come have a bowl—it’s delicious!”
Without waiting for a reply, he ladled some soup into a bowl, thumb immersed in the broth without noticing.
“Try it—it’s fresh and tasty.”
Shurui stepped forward but didn’t take the bowl.
The shop’s entrance was grimy, walls smeared with offal residue—more shabby than its long disuse suggested.
The shop hadn’t operated in over a decade. A stall was common for long-unused spaces, especially in a decent location like this one.
But the vendor clearly didn’t care about cleanliness. The ground was filthy, not from a few days of use. Long-term use of a non-owned space demanded some tidying, especially selling food. Cleanliness was essential.
Shurui, new to the city and not wanting trouble, politely said: “Sir, I hope your business prospers. Please move a bit—I intend to reopen this shop. Though I’m slender, I need to get in and out.”
The old man frowned, putting down his bowl. “Reopen the shop?”
He appraised Shurui up and down, then laughed. “Don’t fool me, sir. I live in the alley behind this street. This shop hasn’t opened in over ten years. Even the grass on the grave would be a few meters high. How could anyone come in this blazing sun to reclaim it?”
He drank the soup, smacking his lips happily, then tilted his head. “You’re eyeing this prime spot and want to kick me out? All in vain?”
Shurui listened to the old man’s foul-mouthed grumbling, his expression darkening slightly, but he said nothing. He simply took out the deed to the shop from his belongings. “Sir, you’re at a respectable age—better to keep your words kind.”
The old man, finding Shurui’s tone odd, lazily glanced at him. When he saw the deed in Shurui’s hand, his eyes immediately brightened. “This shop… really yours?”
“Who would go to the trouble of forging a deed for such a rundown place?” Shurui replied, pocketing the document. “Sir, please move aside quickly so I can get inside.”
The old man exclaimed, then forced a smile. “Ah, I’ve no way with words. You’re so young, yet have the skill to own a proper shop. I’m simple-minded, thought you were just teasing me.
“All these years you didn’t come to check, and the shop fell into ruin. I thought I’d keep a small stall here to maintain the place and keep it alive for you.”
After a string of such pleasantries, he added, “I’ll move the stall aside, you’ll be able to get in. From now on, it will be bustling.”
Shurui understood that the old man intended to keep the stall here, hoping a young master would be easy to bully. If he showed weakness, the neighborhood would see him as a pushover.
He raised his voice: “Sir, if you don’t mind me tidying up the shop, the dust and dirt may have spoiled some of the soup here. We’ll pay a fair market fee for using the space—everyone benefits!”
“The usual stall fee is one in deposit, three in payment—total four. Will you settle now? This way we can be fair with each other.”
The old man paused, realizing this young man had a sharp tongue. Yet he persisted, lowering his voice, pleading: “Sir, I’m poor. My children are unmarried, still counting on me for food. You’re wealthy, spare me a little—leave me some way to live.”
Shurui smiled. He was long done with pretending to be poor or pitying others. “Fine. We’re all poor folks. I’ll be lenient today. Go inspect the neighboring stalls. If you bring payment tomorrow, I’ll accept it. If not, this spot won’t remain yours.”
The old man, realizing Shurui felt no pity, was both ashamed and irritated. Most young masters his age weren’t like this. He stopped playing the victim and scolded: “You’re too young and money-obsessed! Every word is about coins, no human warmth! Does your family only keep money in mind?”
Shurui responded, “Sir, one moment you scold, the next you’re angry. I’m truly bewildered. If you have such talent, why bury yourself running a soup stall? Upstairs in the hall, you’d have admirers.”
The old man was momentarily speechless, chest heaving, eyes wide. He didn’t believe he couldn’t handle this young master. Sitting back on his stool, he tried to bluff: “I’ve run this stall long enough, and regulars know the spot. I lead customers to you, yet you don’t care. Then I’ll take my due.”
Shurui saw through the tactic—he wouldn’t “evict” the man with words alone.
He noticed the donkey by the roadside, tired and drooling, already giving off a foul smell after the long journey.
With a quick idea, he led the donkey over and tied it to a small elm in front of the shop. Ignoring the old man, he turned to inspect the rusty lock.
The old man, seeing Shurui disregard him, prepared to open the door himself.
He huffed and squinted, ready to nap again, thinking that if the young master went inside, he could continue his business outside.
Unexpectedly, the tied donkey not only blocked the stall but stank, attracting flies. Squatting, it defecated right in front of the brazier.
The old man panicked. “Ah! Young master! Your donkey—!”
Shurui tilted his head calmly. “Sir, don’t mind. Everyone and every beast has needs. I’ll clean it later—it’s on my doorstep, no harm done.”
The old man pinched his nose, muttering as he cleaned his bowls. “So young and uncaring for cleanliness, ugly to boot… who’d marry you off like this!”
Shurui nodded, standing tall. “Sir said you have children of marriageable age—if suitable, I could help take a look.”
“You wish!”
The old man spat and cursed, realizing this young master was tough, thick-skinned, and persistent. Irritated, he pushed his cart to leave, trying to scare Shurui: “Wait! If you open the shop here, I’ll—”
Before he finished, he was grabbed by the collar and lifted off the ground.
“Hey! Hey!”
Suspended in midair, the old man couldn’t see behind him, unaware when someone had appeared. Terrified, he begged: “Who—who’s there? Put me down! Let’s speak reasonably!”
Seeing Lu Ling’s stern face, Shurui knew he would not truly harm the old man—just enough to make him cooperate. Lu Ling finally released his grip reluctantly.
The old man’s legs wobbled as he landed, finally realizing he’d been confronted by a young man, slender but upright, with a sword at his waist. He dared not breathe heavily.
Shurui watched the crafty old man behave honestly in front of a physically capable youth. Approaching, he said: “Sir, shall I call my cousin to help push your cart home?”
The old man, utterly cowed, stammered: “No, no! You’re busy!”
He hurried off, pushing the cart, fearing pursuit.
Shurui clapped his hands, amused at how unreasonable some people could be.
Lu Ling frowned, secretly annoyed he hadn’t accompanied Shurui, allowing an old trickster to take advantage.
“You needn’t waste words with him—wait for me to handle it.”
Shurui smiled, appreciating Lu Ling’s concern but determined not to rely on others. Now in Chaoxi Prefecture, he would have to handle everything himself.
Though he’d traveled with Lu Ling for over ten days and gotten along fairly well, he never forgot they were mere acquaintances.
He planned to inspect the shop, then find the skilled doctor to treat the patient. Once memories returned and compensation settled, their paths would diverge.
He kept his thoughts to himself. “The man’s gone. Whoever chased him doesn’t matter. Come on, let’s check the shop.”