Free Web NovelPublish Time: 2026-07-12 19:32:00
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«Chapter 557: Still Too Young
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The old man chuckled, “How fortuitous. I was just worrying how I’d finish these two big fish. How about I give you one?”
“Thank you, Elder.” Chen Changsheng thanked him with a cupped fist.
The old man said, “One big, one small. Why not take the big one? The small one is just right for me.”
“How heavy might this big one be?”
“Only about three jin. Call it ten coins.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Changsheng said, “How can that be acceptable?!”
A fish this big, over three jin, would cost at least twenty-odd coins in the street. Ten coins was far too cheap.
The old man gave a laugh and said, “I don’t lack those few coins. You solved a problem for me, so ten coins is about right.”
Chen Changsheng replied, “Let me add a little more. How about eighteen coins? It’s a luckier number.”
“You young fellow…”
The old man smiled helplessly. “Who sells fish like this? Don’t say such things; it invites bad luck. Ten coins is it. Otherwise, I won’t sell.”
Chen Changsheng could only smile helplessly. “Then I won’t refuse further. Thank you for letting me get such a bargain, Elder.”
“Hold it tight now. It’s still alive and thrashing.”
“Alright.”
Chen Changsheng handed over ten copper coins and bought the fish.
He then asked, “Where is your home, Elder?”
“The west of Willow Court Lane. And you, young man?”
“I live nearby, in Chuanfeng Lane.”
“Ah, close then. Still means this old bag of bones has quite the walk ahead.”
“Your bones are plenty strong, Elder. You could walk for decades more.”
“Okay, okay, okay. May your words come true! Let me live another twenty or thirty years, hahaha.”
“Well, young man, I must be off. If we meet on the street again someday, I’ll sell you another fish.”
“Then I shall wait for it.”
“Alright.”
The old man picked up his other string of fish and walked away.
Chen Changsheng smiled. He lifted the fish in his hand and looked at it. “Such a fish will be enough to feed everyone in the courtyard.”
He was fortunate he met that old man. Perhaps this was why Chen Changsheng loved staying in the Mortal World. Everywhere he looked, there was life, warmth, and kindness. “Mustn’t waste such a fresh fish. Need to buy some seasonings.”
There were stalls selling pickled radishes and pickled mustard greens for just a few coins – perfect for making Suan Cai Yu (Pickled Fish with Vegetables). Come to think of it, it had been a long time since he’d had it.
After buying what he needed, Chen Changsheng headed home. Carrying his purchases, he reached the street corner. Just as he turned right, he saw several people gathered around a posted notice.
“Heaven’s Gate Mountain has a ropeway? How come I never knew?” “Me neither.” “I heard my father mention it, ages ago. They say the Righteous Army came through there.”
“How high is it?” “About over seventy zhang.” “Yikes! Then no one will take that job! Pay like that for deadly work!” “You said it!”
Hearing this chatter, Chen Changsheng approached. He walked to the notice and looked at its contents. Roughly, it stated the ropeway up Heaven’s Gate Mountain had broken. Workers were needed to rebuild it, but the pay offered was a mere one hundred and thirty copper coins. Not per day, nor per person. That was the total payment.
“Only that much pay?” Chen Changsheng murmured to himself. Probably wouldn’t find anyone then. But he remembered the rope seemed fine. Last time he saw it, he’d estimated it had at least another twenty years of use. For it to break so soon couldn’t be natural.
Just then, a voice spoke beside him. “Maybe whoever put this notice up just doesn’t have the money.” Chen Changsheng turned. He saw a boy with dark skin, dressed in old clothes with a few holes. Not a beggar, but clearly poor.
“Young man knows?” Chen Changsheng asked. The boy hesitated at the formal address, hurriedly waving his hands. “I’m just a nobody. Call me Dongwa.” He opened his mouth. “Actually… I put this notice up. For my grandpa.”
Chen Changsheng asked, “So it’s not stinginess, but inability to pay?” Dongwa nodded. “We had workers. But the rope was too heavy, hard to get up. When the men saw how high it really was, they got scared. They backed out. Now… we’re desperate to find others.”
He sighed. “Grandpa even talked to the master at the Yamen (Government Office). But the Master said he didn’t care about that path – it’s been abandoned too long, no one uses it, and he wouldn’t waste the money. So… posting this notice was our only hope. Hoping a kind-hearted soul might help.”
Chen Changsheng understood. He then asked, “By the way, do you know how the rope broke?”
“Looked like someone cut it. One piece severed. The broken end had knife marks.”
“Is that so…”
Chen Changsheng pondered. Dongwa glanced at him. “Don’t tell me… you want to help?” Chen Changsheng looked up. “I believe I might be able to assist.”
Dongwa blinked, startled. “You really mean it?!” This was unexpected. Chen Changsheng smiled. “I can find someone to repair the rope.” Dongwa stared, about to ask another question, but the man stepped forward and peeled the notice right off the wall.
“I’ll have someone come later.”
Chen Changsheng said with a smile, nodding at the sky. “It’s growing late. Best head home now, young man.”
“Wait! You…”
Dongwa reached out to stop him, but the man just walked off without a backward glance. Honestly, Dongwa was worried about the cost of the notice. They paid someone to write it, and the paper itself cost two coins! What if the man was lying? Dongwa watched the figure grow distant. He felt helpless, only able to console himself: maybe he really would send help. He looked up at the darkening sky, sighed, and walked towards the city gate, leaving before it closed. All the way home, he worried about how to explain this to Grandpa.
…………..
On his way back, Chen Changsheng met Ruyi and Lihua, who were also heading home.
“Uncle Chen!” Ruyi shouted, cradling Lihua and caught up with him. Her eyes fixed on the large fish. “What a fat fish!”
Lihua poked its head out from Ruyi’s embrace. Its round eyes stayed fixed on the fish. Chen Changsheng said, “Gonna make Suan Cai Yu (Pickled Fish with Vegetables) when we get back.”
“Meow?” Lihua looked at Chen Changsheng, seeming to ask what that was.
Chen Changsheng explained, “It’s a way of cooking fish. Even tastier than the fish you had last time.”
Lihua’s eyes instantly sparkled with excitement.
“Meow! Meow! Meow~!”
Tugging at Chen Changsheng’s robe right there in the street, it seemed to be urging him to hurry home. Not a single moment’s delay would do!
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