Chapter 929: Meeting Tang Mingjing Again

Chen Changsheng then asked, "May I ask if you have some business with This Chen, Young Lady?"

His sudden words interrupted the woman's thoughts.

She paused. "I..."

Embarrassed, she was momentarily at a loss for words.

Before she could speak, Chen Changsheng continued, "Ah, they say a chance meeting is destiny. This Chen forgot to bring a travel pass on this trip and was stopped at the gates. I wonder if I might hitch a ride in your horse carriage, Young Lady? You can just treat me as your servant so we can enter the city together."

The Young Lady in the horse carriage breathed a sigh of relief. At the very least, she wouldn't lose face. "Naturally, you may," she replied.

Hearing this, the driver hesitated, not even having the time to interject.

Seeing that she had already agreed, he swallowed his objections.

Only then did the Young Lady inside the horse carriage realize what she had agreed to. But since her word was given, she couldn't well take it back. "You aren't some sort of spy, are you?" she asked. "Because if you are, I won't take you into the city."

Chen Changsheng smiled. "Do I look like one to you, Young Lady?"

"Very much so."

"Hm..."

Chen Changsheng said, "You must be joking, Young Lady. This Chen is no spy."

The Young Lady clicked her tongue and said, "If you get into any trouble later on, absolutely do not say I brought you into the city."

"I won't. You can rest assured, Young Lady."

"Mhm. Then step up and lead the horse, old man."

"Many thanks."

With the woman's help, Chen Changsheng successfully entered the city while leading the horse.

After entering the city, Chen Changsheng said, "Many thanks, Young Lady."

The Young Lady inside the horse carriage gave a faint reply of "No matter" before urging the driver to hurry away.

Chen Changsheng didn't pester them further. Once inside the city, he began to ask around.

"Brother, do you happen to know where the Tang Family Trading Firm's shop is?"

"It's over there. Walk straight ahead, then..."

Guided by passersby, Chen Changsheng successfully located the Tang Family Trading Firm's storefront.

After a quick glance around, he walked inside.

Several clerks sat inside the storefront, each busy with their own tasks. Many customers were coming in to hire the trading firm to transport batches of livestock. Along the current trade routes, the Tang Family Trading Firm held the greatest influence. They were even more reliable than armed escort agencies, making this a lucrative supplementary business for them.

"Please have a seat, sir, so we can talk."

As soon as Chen Changsheng entered, a clerk came forward to greet him.

After he sat down, the clerk asked, "May I ask what business brings you here?"

Chen Changsheng paused for a moment. "It's like this. This Chen isn't here for business, but to find someone."

The clerk paused. "Who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for your owner."

Hearing this, the clerk was stunned. He asked no further questions and immediately said, "Please wait a moment."

With that, he went to find the head shopkeeper.

Hearing that someone was looking for the owner, the shopkeeper immediately hurried out. Naturally, he needed to get a look at the visitor to see if they truly knew each other.

The moment the shopkeeper came out, he was taken aback. He stared at a white-haired old man wearing a green scholar's robe. He searched his memories carefully but couldn't recall any impression of him.

The shopkeeper didn't show any displeasure. Instead, he stepped forward with a smile, sat down, and cupped his hands in greeting. "I am the trading firm's third shopkeeper. May I ask where you hail from and what business you have with our owner? Is it a trade deal, or..."

Chen Changsheng said, "This Chen comes from Yan County. I'm not here for business, but merely to catch up with your owner. I wonder if you could announce This Chen on my behalf."

"Naturally, that is fine." The shopkeeper asked, "Could you inform me of your esteemed name so I can make the announcement?"

Chen Changsheng said, "This Chen's given name is Changsheng."

"Chen Changsheng..."

The shopkeeper muttered the name, finding it increasingly familiar.

A moment later, he let out a gasp.

"Ah!"

The shopkeeper finally realized who it was and immediately stood up.

He looked closer, recalling the figure in the portrait. This clothing, this appearance, this demeanor—they were exactly the same.

Could this be that Mister Chen whom he had never met?

The shopkeeper was shocked, but he quickly composed himself. Catching his breath, he said, "Please wait a moment, Mister. I... I will go announce you at once."

If this person was an imposter and he showed him too much respect, wouldn't he lose face for the trading firm? No, that wouldn't do. It was best to inform the owner, who happened to be upstairs.

"Sorry to trouble you."

The shopkeeper hurriedly went upstairs.

In a partitioned room upstairs, Tang Mingjing was looking over the recent business records and the accompanying account books. His left hand continually flicked through the abacus beads, while his right hand wielded a brush, ceaselessly circling and dotting the pages.

However, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

Tang Mingjing instantly frowned and asked in mild irritation, "What is it?!"

The shopkeeper panicked and said, "B-Boss, there's a man downstairs who says he's here to catch up with you. His surname is Chen, and his name is Chen Changsheng. To me, he looks a bit like that Mister Chen from the Painted Scroll."

Hearing this, Tang Mingjing instantly grew alert.

"Who?"

"Mister Chen from the Painted Scroll."

Tang Mingjing put down his brush, hurriedly stood up, and opened the door.

The shopkeeper was waiting to the side, but before he could speak, Tang Mingjing walked straight downstairs.

In the main room, he immediately spotted the green-robed Mister holding a cup of tea.

But at a second glance, this Mister turned out to be an old man with a full head of white hair and wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. This made Tang Mingjing freeze in his tracks, murmuring to himself in doubt.

Was this person Mister Chen?

The shopkeeper had followed him down. Tang Mingjing frowned and asked, "Is that him?"

The shopkeeper nodded. "That's the one."

Tang Mingjing slowly walked over. He saw that this person's temperament was indeed somewhat similar to Mister Chen's, but in his memory, Mister Chen shouldn't have aged.

Could it be an imposter?

He didn't say a word and simply sat down at the table.

Chen Changsheng was also taken aback when he saw him. Putting down his teacup, he asked, "Why is your face so pale? Have you been poisoned?"

Tang Mingjing was rendered momentarily speechless by this sudden question, not knowing how to reply.

He covered his mouth and coughed lightly, then turned to look at the old man and asked, "Are you really Mister Chen?"

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng came to his senses and finally remembered the issue.

He raised his sleeve and brushed it across his face.

His aged features instantly grew young again.

Tang Mingjing's eyes went wide, and the shopkeeper waiting to the side was also stunned. "This, this..."

Tang Mingjing recovered his wits and raised a hand.

The shopkeeper understood implicitly and hurriedly withdrew.

Only then did Tang Mingjing breathe a sigh of relief. He cupped his hands and said, "Please come upstairs for a chat, Mister."

Chen Changsheng glanced at him. Between his pale appearance and those words, he couldn't help but feel that Tang Mingjing was acting a bit sneaky.

He didn't say anything and followed him upstairs.

Once they were upstairs, Tang Mingjing asked in pleasant surprise, "When did you arrive in Shangjing, Mister Chen?"

"Just now," Chen Changsheng said. "I didn't have a place to stay, so I came looking for you."

Hearing this, Tang Mingjing smiled helplessly and said, "You flatter me, Mister."

Chen Changsheng let out a sigh. "Then again, This Chen doesn't have many acquaintances left in Shangjing City."