Chapter 770: Acting Like a Woman

Early the next morning, Chen Changsheng headed out into the streets.

First, to get some breakfast, and second, to keep his promise to Yunxiang and buy her some candied fruit.

The noodle stall outside the tea house opened early.

The water was just coming to a boil when Chen Changsheng arrived, making him right on time.

"A bowl of noodles," Chen Changsheng said.

The old man looked at Chen Changsheng and smiled. "You're early."

Chen Changsheng smiled and nodded, then took a seat.

The old man dropped the noodles into the pot and asked, "By the way, do you know that gentleman from yesterday?"

Chen Changsheng paused. "Which one?"

"The one who showed up right after you left."

"Oh, him..."

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment. "You could say we know each other."

The old man laughed. "I see."

"What is it?" Chen Changsheng looked up. "Did he talk behind my back?"

The old man hesitated slightly. "Not exactly."

Seeing the old man's hesitation, Chen Changsheng understood. "What did he say about me?"

"Nothing, he didn't say anything," the old man insisted.

Chen Changsheng smiled. "You don't need to worry. We get along fine. We're just always messing with each other; there's no real bad blood."

The old man laughed again. "So that's how it is. I thought the two of you were holding some kind of grudge."

"Nothing like that," Chen Changsheng said.

"You two really have a good bond," the old man said. "Sigh. When I was young, I also had a few friends I used to mess around with like that. Over the years, some moved away and some passed on. Honestly, it makes me a little envious."

"Isn't that just life?" Chen Changsheng said. "When it comes down to it, it's just the ebb and flow of the tide—people gathering and drifting apart."

The old man nodded. "That's right. You can only live well if you learn to take things lightly."

Chen Changsheng gave a warm smile. "Naturally."

A short while later, the noodles were served.

Chen Changsheng pulled out a pair of chopsticks, tapped them even, and started to eat.

He was still eating when a voice sounded from behind him.

"Get me a bowl of noodles."

The voice was familiar. Chen Changsheng looked back.

Who else could it be but Prince Wei?

The two had bumped into each other again.

Prince Wei frowned the moment he spotted Chen Changsheng. "Why do you haunt me like a lingering ghost?"

"This Chen was here first," Chen Changsheng said. "You're the lingering ghost here."

He took a bite of his noodles.

Prince Wei looked at the old man running the stall. "Old man! Didn't we agree you weren't going to sell to him?"

The old man paused, looking a bit helpless. "Well..."

Chen Changsheng looked at Prince Wei. "Is picking on an old man supposed to be impressive?"

"Is it any of your business?" Prince Wei shot back.

Chen Changsheng glanced at him and smiled faintly. "You don't seem to have brought your guards."

Prince Wei froze and took a half-step back. "What are you planning? I'm warning you, in broad daylight, you..."

"You really are a coward."

Prince Wei hesitated, then said, "I won't waste my breath arguing with you."

With that, the King of Wei took a seat at the opposite table.

A moment later, the old man brought over a bowl of noodles. "You're friends, there's no need to argue. Can't you just sit down, have a good chat, and work it out?"

Prince Wei shook his head repeatedly. "I certainly don't have a friend like him."

"You think This Chen cares for your company?" Chen Changsheng retorted.

"You better watch your mouth!" Prince Wei pointed at Chen Changsheng. "This Ki— I am not a forgiving man."

"Fine," Chen Changsheng said. "Bring your guards another day, and we'll see who beats up whom. If you don't call me Grandpa Chen then, I won't let you leave."

"You think I'm afraid of you?!"

"Call them. You can go back and call them right now. This Chen will be waiting right here."

"You!!"

The King of Wei was genuinely thrown by Chen Changsheng's words.

This wasn't going according to the script at all.

"I just don't understand it!" Prince Wei said indignantly. "Why aren't you afraid of me at all?"

Chen Changsheng shot him a look over his noodles. "Who exactly are you?"

"I..."

Prince Wei was momentarily at a loss for words. He snorted coldly, then lowered his head and started eating his noodles.

Chen Changsheng stopped bickering with him and continued eating.

By comparison, Chen Changsheng was eating a bit faster than he was.

Seeing this, Prince Wei felt a surge of indignation and quickened the pace of his chopsticks.

Chen Changsheng shook his head, ignoring him.

Prince Wei had arrived later, but he finished his bowl of noodles before Chen Changsheng.

He wiped his mouth and sat at the opposite table, staring straight at Chen Changsheng.

The two of them sat separated by a couple of tables, glaring at each other like fire and water, completely at odds.

The old man shook his head helplessly at the sight and couldn't help but mutter, "Youth really is full of energy."

He was actually a little envious.

Chen Changsheng finished his noodles and paid. As he stood up, he glanced at Prince Wei without a word and walked away.

He still had things to do; he didn't have time to entertain this guy.

Unexpectedly, Prince Wei immediately got up and chased after him.

"Why are you following me?" Chen Changsheng glanced at him.

"What business is it of yours?" Prince Wei replied.

Too lazy to argue, Chen Changsheng turned back around and kept walking.

You could find merchants selling just about anything on the streets of Qingshan City, but candied fruit shops were somewhat rare. This was mostly due to the season. Candied fruit became scarce after the start of summer, primarily because it was hard to store. Even though the fruits were air-dried, they attracted bugs and were difficult to sell. Generally, candied fruit sold best in the autumn and winter.

However, if one really wanted to find some, it wasn't impossible.

As long as the shops were open, they still had stock to sell.

After walking for quite some time, Chen Changsheng finally spotted a candied fruit shop.

"How much for the candied fruit?"

Inside the shop were a man and a woman, likely a married couple. Neither looked very old, and the shop itself appeared quite new, as if it had only recently opened.

"Dried persimmons are three wen..."

The man proceeded to list the prices of the different candied fruits.

Because they weren't selling many varieties this season, he finished his explanation in no time.

Chen Changsheng nodded. "Then I'll take some dried persimmons, and some..."

But then Prince Wei, who had been tailing him, suddenly interjected.

"I'll take it all."

The couple froze at his words.

"A-all of it?" The couple exchanged a look, both a little stunned.

Chen Changsheng turned to Prince Wei, speaking calmly. "Why are you being so petty?"

"And you're generous?" Prince Wei retorted.

Chen Changsheng paused before saying, "You're worse than a girl."

"What did you say?!"

"Is This Chen wrong? Acting like this, you're just like a woman!"

Prince Wei clenched his fists. "Good, good, good! You're dead! You are absolutely dead!"

"Do me a favor and stand back."

Chen Changsheng waved him off. "This Chen still needs to buy candied fruit."

"Didn't you hear me?" Prince Wei snapped. "I'm buying it all!"

"I advise against that," Chen Changsheng said. "Very few people have ever dared to snatch things from This Chen's hands."

"Well, I insist on taking it. What can you do about it?"