Immortal Travel of Longevity

To the people of Qingshan City, the name Chen Changsheng was likely unfamiliar. Even if someone knew it, they probably only knew him as Mister Chen or Chen Jiucha. Even if the waiter went back and asked around, it was doubtful anyone would recall him.

But such was the way of life. A person could only linger in memory for so long.

The Hundred-Fragrance Noodles were delicious.

That alone was enough.

Yangchun ate two bowls of Hundred-Fragrance Noodles, finally filling her stomach.

Chen Changsheng then asked her, "Where do you plan to settle down? This Chen thinks Zhongzhi City is quite nice. Or you could travel with This Chen a bit further. There are acquaintances in Qingshan City, and This Chen could help you out."

In the end, they had still arrived at this question.

Yangchun looked up at Chen Changsheng. She opened her mouth. If forced to say, she certainly felt Qingshan City would be better.

But she had already troubled the Master far too much along the way.

Chen Changsheng nodded at that, then said, "Let's go, then."

Yangchun asked, "Where are we going, Master?"

Chen Changsheng replied, "To see if anyone can lend a hand."

After wandering the city for a while and asking for directions, Chen Changsheng stopped in front of a trading firm.

Yangchun looked up and saw that the trading firm bore the name Tang.

"Master, I know this one," Yangchun said. "There is a Tang Family trading firm where I am from, too. They used to deliver goods to our estate."

"Is that so?"

"Does Master have an acquaintance here?"

"You could say that."

The manager of the trading firm in Zhongzhi City was Shopkeeper Zheng. When Chen Changsheng walked through the doors, the shopkeeper suddenly remembered something.

Every shopkeeper had to memorize a certain portrait perfectly before leaving the main estate. Now that the man from it was standing right in front of him, how could he possibly fail to recognize him?

After recognizing Chen Changsheng, the shopkeeper asked a few probing questions. He inquired about his name and various other details, only then confirming that the man before him was indeed Mister Chen.

Overjoyed, the shopkeeper hurriedly ordered his staff to prepare a proper reception, but Chen Changsheng declined.

"There is no need for such trouble. This Chen will be leaving shortly. I came this time to ask the shopkeeper for a favor."

Shopkeeper Zheng replied, "Please speak, Mister Chen. I will certainly do everything in my power."

Chen Changsheng smiled. "It is nothing major. Along the way, This Chen crossed paths with this young lady, Yangchun. She needs a place to settle down in the city, so I was wondering if..."

His general meaning was to ask the shopkeeper to help introduce her to some work.

Yangchun felt a little embarrassed.

Shopkeeper Zheng said, "That is a trivial matter. You can put your mind at ease, Mister."

Chen Changsheng cupped his hands. "Then you have my thanks, Shopkeeper Zheng."

"You are too polite, Mister, too polite..."

The shopkeeper then asked Yangchun a few questions.

"Miss Yangchun, do you know how to read?"

Yangchun replied, "I recognize some words."

"Can you write?"

"De—decently enough. I have written letters for others before."

As the personal maid of her estate's young lady, Yangchun had naturally picked up some reading and writing. Even if no one had explicitly taught her, she had recognized quite a few words simply by staying by the young lady's side for so long.

"That is perfect." The shopkeeper smiled. "The trading firm happens to be short a ledger keeper. Would you like to give it a try?"

Yangchun froze for a moment. "Can I... am I capable of doing that?"

"It is nothing difficult."

The Tang Family Trading Firm had the position of ledger keeper to document the daily happenings of the business, such as successfully negotiated deals or which important figures they had interacted with. These daily logs were then handed over to the higher-ranking shopkeepers for monthly review.

Chen Changsheng suddenly spoke up. "This ledger keeper position..."

Shopkeeper Zheng said, "I will not hide it from you, Mister. I have my own selfish motives for wanting Miss Yangchun to take this role."

Chen Changsheng paused before asking, "You might as well speak plainly."

Shopkeeper Zheng sighed and said, "I dare not deceive you, Mister. As a shopkeeper, my monthly salary and commissions are quite substantial. However, I have recently fallen into a predicament, so..."

"But the ledger keeper position is personally appointed by the higher-up shopkeepers or the owners. The previous ledger keeper grew too old and returned to his hometown to retire. If I wait for the higher-ups or owners to dispatch a replacement, my affairs will undoubtedly be exposed. However, with Mister Chen's name, Miss Yangchun stepping into the role should be a certainty. Therefore, I was hoping to ask Miss Yangchun to do me this small favor once she takes the position."

Chen Changsheng asked, "If I may be so bold, what kind of predicament?"

The shopkeeper sighed helplessly. "My foolish son is a fop. He drank too much at a tavern and accidentally offended a military officer. As a father, I cannot just watch my son suffer. This is truly a move made out of desperation..."

Chen Changsheng nodded. "Understandable. However, This Chen hopes the shopkeeper will agree to one condition. If this is discovered in the future, the shopkeeper must shoulder all the blame without implicating Miss Yangchun. How about it?"

Shopkeeper Zheng nodded. "That is only right."

Chen Changsheng said, "Of course, This Chen's word is not final. It depends on what she thinks."

The shopkeeper looked at Yangchun and asked, "Then... what do you say, Miss Yangchun?"

"I..."

Yangchun hesitated. She looked at the Master, wanting to ask what he meant by this.

Chen Changsheng said, "It is entirely up to you."

After mulling it over for a moment, Yangchun said, "Then... then I suppose I can do it."

The shopkeeper seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Miss Yangchun. Thank you, Mister. Please, accept my bow."

With that, he stood up and prepared to drop to his knees to kowtow.

Chen Changsheng hurriedly pulled him up. "There is no need for this bow. We came here to ask the shopkeeper for a favor to begin with, so how could this be proper?"

Shopkeeper Zheng was moved to tears. "You have not only saved me, but you have saved my son. I must bow to you."

In the end, Chen Changsheng could not stop him from bowing down.

From then on, Yangchun remained in Zhongzhi City and worked as a ledger keeper for this Tang Family Trading Firm.

As night was about to fall, Yangchun came to see Chen Changsheng off out of the city.

Yangchun said with some worry, "Master, why don't you wait until tomorrow to leave the city? Traveling at night is dangerous."

Chen Changsheng said, "This Chen was able to come and go freely from a bandit lair, so naturally, traveling at night is nothing. You do not need to worry."

Yangchun pursed her lips. In truth, she was mostly just reluctant to part with him.

Chen Changsheng said, "Work hard here under Shopkeeper Zheng. This ledger keeper role is no ordinary position. After helping him this once, if there is a next time, remember to show no leniency."

Yangchun committed Chen Changsheng's words to heart. She nodded and promised, "Master, Yangchun will remember."

Chen Changsheng nodded, then said, "Go back now. This Chen must be heading out of the city."

Coming back to her senses, Yangchun gave a wooden nod, then said, "Have a safe journey, Master."

Chen Changsheng smiled and said, "Naturally."

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled through the city gates.

Yangchun watched as the Master walked from the faint shadows beneath the city walls into the dusk light.

She looked at his silhouette beneath the radiant glow.

She thought the Master looked incredibly handsome.

She did not understand why she would think of such things at the moment of parting.

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