Chapter Fifty-Five: Old Wang Next Door

When Chen Yuan and Xie Changzhi skipped in from outside, she was still cradling an oil-paper package against her bosom, from which a mouth-watering aroma of meat wafted out.

Uncle Wang was bending over, sweeping up dust with a broom. Every sweep stirred up a large cloud of ash.

His nose twitched and his throat bobbed up and down. Straightening his back, he walked toward the back courtyard. "Yuan'er, there's too much dust here. Let me sweep the back courtyard first, and once you've finished eating, I'll..."

Without waiting for him to react, Cheng Yuan shoved the oil-paper package straight into Uncle Wang's arms and said, "Uncle Wang, you're way too slow. Did you not eat breakfast? Eat these buns and hurry up and sweep. Changzhi and I will be moving things in shortly."

Her voice was charming and bright, yet her tone brook no argument.

Uncle Wang opened his mouth. "I brought my own food..."

He fished two flatbreads out from inside his tunic. They looked hard and dry, garnished with only a few scallions.

Cheng Yuan asked, "How could that possibly be enough? Uncle Wang, you are now an employee at my shop, and I am your boss. Shouldn't you listen to me?"

Uncle Wang nodded blankly.

"That settles it, then. I order you to let me take charge of all your meals. Otherwise, if you starve and faint, where am I supposed to find someone to replace you on such short notice? I certainly don't want to waste any extra money."

Cheng Yuan crossed her arms, leaving Uncle Wang's eyes tinged with red.

Without further ado, Uncle Wang straightened his back a little more. "Ah! Right! Very well! I'll listen to you."

Leaving the shop in Uncle Wang's capable hands, the two of them headed out once more.

With the grand opening set for tomorrow, there was still plenty to prepare.

"You've been staring at me for so long—what on earth do you want to say? Don't tell me you think I'm some kind of a saint?"

Cheng Yuan tilted her head, catching the gaze of Xie Changzhi, who was too slow to look away.

He froze, then shook his head vigorously, the tips of his ears turning slightly red. "Sister Yuan is truly a kind-hearted person. I deeply admire you."

Cheng Yuan was taken aback as well. Faced with such sincere and straightforward praise, she was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

She scratched her head. "Uncle Wang is a good man, and so is Auntie Wang. Eldest Brother Wang is even gentler than jade, always looking after the younger children in the village. I'm merely doing what I can."

Who would have guessed that Xie Changzhi, who had been shy just a moment ago, would suddenly change his expression?

"Then how old is Eldest Brother Wang, exactly? Are you two very close?"

He asked nonchalantly while picking up a lantern to inspect it.

Cheng Yuan kept her attention on the lanterns, pondering for a moment before replying, "He's four years older than me, I suppose. We aren't exceptionally close, but we aren't strangers either. Ever since Eldest Brother Wang went to the academy in town, he rarely returns to the village. Though, when we were little, he did teach me how to recognize a few characters."

Those days were far too distant; even in the original owner's memories, everything was somewhat hazy.

Besides, Wang Jiabin was already at the age to marry and start a family. If he passed the provincial examination next year, he would likely move his entire household away and take a new bride.

The more she thought about it, the more melancholic Cheng Yuan felt.

Her campus life in her past world felt like a fleeting dream. What a pity that women were not permitted to study for the imperial examinations in this era; otherwise, she would have tried her hand at it, too.

Xie Changzhi acutely sensed the sudden shift in Cheng Yuan's mood. His gaze darkened, his fingers curling slightly against his side as he slowly tightened them into a fist.

His tone remained even. "Does Sister Yuan like that sort of person?"

Cheng Yuan had just finished selecting two large red lanterns and was paying the shopkeeper when she heard this baffling question.

"What?" she asked instinctively, out of sheer reflex.

"Nothing." Xie Changzhi pressed his lips together, took the lanterns, and dangled them from one hand.

Only belatedly did Cheng Yuan sense that something was amiss, but discussing her preferred type of partner seemed entirely inappropriate with him. Swallowing down her desire to chat further, she clamped her mouth shut.

For the remainder of their shopping trip, the two maintained a tacit silence. Out of the corner of his eye, Xie Changzhi stole several glances at Cheng Yuan, feeling increasingly despondent inside.

Opening a new shop required countless things, ranging from decorations and ingredients to daily necessities. The two made several trips back and forth until the high-hanging sun began its descent, leaving Cheng Yuan finally collapsing onto a rocking chair and gasping for breath.

"Have some tea." Uncle Wang had boiled a pot of hot water and poured cups for the two of them—one lying down and the other standing.

Uncle Wang deliberated for a moment. "My cooking is not too bad. Shall I cook a pot of noodles for lunch and we can make do with that?"

Cheng Yuan made no polite protests and nodded directly.

She still had to run a couple of errands in the afternoon, so the quicker lunch was sorted out, the better.

Uncle Wang hadn't been boasting. When two bowls of pickled cabbage and shredded pork noodles were served at the table, they gave off an enticing aroma.

Exhausted to the point of numbness, Chen Yuan hadn't even known whether her stomach was empty or full, but at that moment, she felt like she could devour a whole ox!

After wolfing down her bowl of noodles in a flash, she glanced at Xie Changzhi. His bowl was almost untouched, and he was staring downward, shoving the noodles into his mouth one strand at a time.

"Uncle Wang, Changzhi, I have some errands to run. You two go ahead and eat."

"Ah! Understood, understood! Leave the shop to me."

By the time Xie Changzhi lifted his head, he caught only the fleeting sight of her departing back.

His heart sank once more.

Uncle Wang slurped down the remainder of his broth, turned his head, and asked in alarm, "Changzhi, was my cooking not to your taste?"

Only then did Xie Changzhi snap back to reality. He shook his head and apologized, "No, no, Uncle Wang's cooking is delicious. I was just exhausted from earlier. I'm eating right now."

Xie Changzhi finished the cold noodles in just a few bites. Wiping his mouth, he watched Uncle Wang clear away the bowls and chopsticks, and after pondering for a long while, he asked:

"Uncle Wang, hasn't Eldest Brother Wang returned lately? I've been in the village for so long and have yet to meet him. I hear he is both exceptionally learned and of a warm, kind disposition."

Uncle Wang shook his head, a hint of regret woven into his otherwise immensely gratified tone. "The academy grants very few holidays to begin with, and I always tell him not to keep rushing back. What is there to see in farming anyway? He should spend more time going out with his peers and studying hard."

Xie Changzhi wore an admiring expression. "Eldest Brother Wang will surely amount to something. You elders can just sit back and wait to enjoy your blessings."

Uncle Wang's face flushed with health, and the corners of his mouth curved upward into a smile. "Whether we enjoy blessings doesn't matter. As long as he studies well, can support himself in the future, and takes a wife to have children, I can close my eyes in peace when I'm under the earth."

Xie Changzhi's eyes flickered. He pressed further, "Eldest Brother Wang is no longer young, and with such fine prospects, has anyone betrothed him yet?"

Uncle Wang shook his head again. "Her mother and I aren't overly traditional people. Once he finds a maiden he fancies in the future, he can simply treat her well."

His heart sank another couple of notches, yet the smile remained fixed on Xie Changzhi's face.

"Indeed, affection matters most. Someone like Eldest Brother Wang will surely find an exceptional woman. Uncle Wang, I suddenly remember I have some matters to attend to outside."

In high spirits, Uncle Wang waved a hand. "I'll keep watch over the shop."

Xie Changzhi nodded, turned, and walked out the door, though he stopped dead in his tracks after taking barely two steps, his face devoid of any expression.

"This book? Thank you, Eldest Brother Wang. I'm truly grateful for your help."

"Think nothing of it. We grew up together after all, no need to be so formal. If there is anything you still don't understand in the future, you can come find me at the academy."

Inside the bookstore, a patch of warm winter sunlight angled down, casting its gentle glow upon the young girl's hair and half of the young man's handsome face.