Chapter 1036: Paying Respects to the Owner

Uncle Chen's words shifted Tang Yuerong's state of mind.

She had waited so anxiously and respectfully for nothing more than the hope that this gentleman might help her escape her predicament.

But looking back on it now, she realized she had been wrong.

From start to finish, she had treated this as nothing more than a transaction, while Uncle Chen genuinely viewed her as his niece.

He never praised how well she was doing. He only spoke of her hardships and exhaustion, telling her she should smile more, and cry when she wanted to cry.

Emotions always arrived without warning.

As she ate, a couple of tears splashed into her bowl.

Chen Changsheng merely asked, "Is the food not salty enough? Are you adding some extra?"

That single remark made Tang Yuerong break into a smile through her tears. Unable to keep crying, she laughed instead, though her eyes remained red.

Perhaps it was this very meal that finally eased the heavy burden pressing on Tang Yuerong's heart. At least, that was how she felt. At least she was no longer entirely without support.

She had an uncle now—an uncle who treated her well, who did not care how capable she was, but only cared whether she was sad or exhausted.

Because of this, from start to finish, Tang Yuerong never brought up the trading firm. She did not want to ruin this affection with such matters.

Chen Changsheng naturally knew the girl was reluctant to speak.

So he did not ask.

After the meal, he had Ruyi stay to chat with Tang Yuerong. Young women always had things to discuss with one another, especially two such strong-willed girls.

Chen Changsheng stepped out the door and shed his elderly guise of white hair and a white beard.

He was going to visit a few households.

In truth, he was going to ask for help.

"Who is it?"

"Coming, coming."

A moment later, an old man opened the door.

Upon opening it, he saw a handsome man dressed in a green robe.

The man behind the door blinked, staring blankly for a long time.

Distant memories suddenly surfaced, and the man standing before him merged with the figure from a certain portrait.

"You are..."

The old man was instantly shocked and hurriedly dropped to his knees. "This old one pays respects to the Immortal!"

Chen Changsheng hurriedly said, "Shopkeeper Wu, please rise. This Chen has come today to ask a favor."

This old man was one of the retired old shopkeepers from the Tang Manor.

...

That night.

Ruyi and Tang Yuerong chatted.

Tang Yuerong conversed with her while writing out documents.

Some matters simply could not be delayed, but she felt that chatting with Ruyi made things much easier, so she worked while they talked.

"What kind of person is Uncle Chen?"

Ruyi thought for a moment before summarizing him in a single sentence: "Pretty shameless."

"Huh?"

Tang Yuerong stared blankly before laughing. "How can you say that? If Uncle Chen finds out, won't he teach you a lesson?"

Ruyi smacked her lips and said, "Then let him. It's not like I'm wrong. Ah, well, it's something like that. If you really want me to say what kind of person Uncle Chen is, I couldn't put it into words."

Tang Yuerong nodded, then asked, "I heard before that Uncle Chen is an Immortal. Is that true or false?"

"True."

"Then... what is he like? Is it like the books say? Can he move mountains and cross seas, and stir up storms with a wave of his hand?"

"Hmm, I haven't seen it, but for Uncle Chen, it probably wouldn't be too hard."

"He's that powerful..."

Lihua was sprawled out to the side, already dozing off from their chatter. It let out a yawn and interjected, "That's nothing. Chen the Good Man is incredible. I saw him cleave a mountain in half with a single Sword strike, and he cast Seal Heaven and Lock Earth with just a single sentence."

At the mention of this, both Ruyi and Tang Yuerong grew immensely curious.

"What else? What else?"

Lihua blinked, thought for a moment, and said, "I heard Mo Yu say before that Chen the Good Man can command tens of thousands of Dragon Clan water demons. Even the Dragon Lord of the Tongtian River is his friend."

"The Dragon Lord..."

As they chatted, Tang Yuerong lost all heart for her writing. She asked curiously, "Is there really a Dragon Lord in the Tongtian River? It's not just a fabricated legend?"

"He is definitely real," Ruyi said. "I've even met the Goddess of the Celestial River. Years ago, back in Qingshan City, she came to deliver things to Uncle Chen, and she called him Uncle, too."

"Huh?" Tang Yuerong was stunned.

Ruyi chuckled and said, "So you can rest easy. Uncle Chen acknowledged you as his niece. From now on, no matter where you go, all you have to do is call out, and no one will dare lay a finger on you."

Tang Yuerong smiled and committed the matter to memory. She did not dismiss it; she knew that what Ruyi said might not be an exaggeration.

Just as they were chatting, a sound came from outside the room.

"Knock, knock..."

"Miss, Miss..."

The steward was waiting outside the door.

"What is it?" Tang Yuerong asked.

The steward spoke, "Several of the old shopkeepers have arrived. They are waiting outside."

Tang Yuerong paused, then cast a glance at Ruyi.

Ruyi said, "Go tend to your business. Weren't you quite focused on these old shopkeepers earlier? Now they've come looking for you—maybe they have changed their minds."

Tang Yuerong smiled, though she did not think so.

She had poured so much effort into them before, even calling on them six times in a single day, only to be rejected. Now that they had all shown up together, it actually made her a bit afraid of these old shopkeepers.

She could only hope they had not colluded to come here and demand an exorbitant price.

If they had, she truly would not know what to do.

When she went to the Main Hall, she saw several shopkeepers standing inside.

Tang Yuerong took a deep breath. First clasping her hands in greeting, she said, "Yuerong pays her respects to you elders. Your arrival was sudden, so the manor has not prepared tea, but the servants are brewing some now. Tea and fruits will be served shortly. Please, elders, take a seat."

These old shopkeepers were all seniors who had helped Tang Mingjing build the family's foundation. It was only right for Tang Yuerong to address them as elders.

"Miss, we will not sit."

Tang Yuerong's heart skipped a beat, and her mind fell into disarray.

But the words the shopkeepers spoke next threw her mind into utter turmoil.

"Today, Mister Chen personally visited our homes, calling on us one by one. We are nothing but lowly merchants with low status, yet Mister Chen, as an Immortal, treated us with courtesy. It leaves us deeply ashamed."

"We have come together today for two reasons: to answer our old ties to the late master, and to honor the courtesy of an Immortal. For the days to come, we old fellows are entirely at your disposal, Miss. We only ask that you do not disdain us for our old age."

"Our blood is still warm. We can still be of use."

As their voices fell, the several shopkeepers raised their clasped hands in unison.

"We pay our respects to the Owner!"

The shopkeepers before her bowed deeply as one.

Tang Yuerong was suddenly in a daze.

The moonlight spilling into the room reflected with the glow of the candles, highlighting the hunched figures of the old shopkeepers before her.

Tears welled up in Tang Yuerong's eyes. Taking a deep breath, she held them back.

She stepped forward, clasped her hands, and bowed in return.

"Yuerong is ashamed, and deeply thanks you elders."