Misty Rain of the Old Times

Perhaps it was Zhang Yu's encouragement that had an effect, for Zheng Wanqian said with grace and composure, "I was fortunate to have received your righteous help, Young Master Chen. Otherwise, I would probably have turned into a pile of bones long ago. I will never forget your life-saving grace. Please make yourselves at home, Young Master Chen."

As she spoke, she served the little princess a bowl of rice with both hands.

Zhang Yu almost couldn't help but interrupt her while she was speaking, thinking she was going to say something about offering herself in return. Luckily, she hadn't been bewitched by Chen Xuan.

At the same time, Zhang Yu felt speechless and wanted to cover her face. My silly sister, I wanted to help you stand up straight, but listen to what you said. It's easy for people to misunderstand, and don't you think you're putting yourself in an even lower position?
You still treat this place like home. Why don't you just pay him to be in charge? Oh right, that's what you've always thought. Oh well, you're hopeless.

Chen Xuan accepted the bowl of rice and thanked her, not delving into the matter of saving her back then, lest he be suspected of seeking repayment for a favor. He casually brushed it off, saying, "It was nothing, just a small favor. By the way, since I've come empty-handed, I brought a small gift. It's nothing valuable, I hope Miss Zheng won't find it offensive."

After finishing, Chen Xuan looked at the little girl beside him and gestured with his eyes. She handed over the gift box she had brought, and Chen Xuan took it and handed it to Zheng Wanqian.

“It is an honor that Young Master Chen and Her Highness the Princess have graced our door with their presence. How could we possibly accept the gift? Absolutely not. Please take it back,” Zheng Wanxi said, gently waving her hand in refusal.

As an observer, Zhang Yu, who herself had little romantic experience, was almost frantic with worry for Zheng Wanqian. She thought to herself, "Sister, are you stupid? Just accept whatever he gives you. That way, a relationship will naturally develop. And when a woman pursues a man, it's easy. Just take the initiative. You're already outstanding enough. Winning him over is just a matter of time."

Thinking this, Zhang Yu used the table as cover to pinch Zheng Wanqian's thigh as a reminder.

"Take it. I know Miss Zheng doesn't lack anything. Anyway, it's nothing valuable, just a small token of my appreciation," Chen Xuan smiled and continued to hand the gift box to Zheng Wanqian.

Zheng Wanqian is now practically running the entire Zheng family business. She's no fool; she's adept at managing such a large operation and navigating complex situations with ease. Reminded by Zhang Yu, she immediately realized her mistake and said somewhat awkwardly, "Thank you, Young Master Chen. Then this humble woman will humbly accept it."

"That's right, that's how it should be. It's awkward for everyone to keep passing the food around. Come on, the delicious food is right in front of us, we can't let it go to waste, everyone start eating," Chen Xuan said with a smile, acting as if he really considered this place his home.

Receiving the gift from Chen Xuan filled Zheng Wanqian with sweet joy. This was the first time Chen Xuan had ever given her anything, and she was overjoyed, holding it tightly and reluctant to put it down. She couldn't help but ask curiously, "Young Master Chen, may I know what's inside? I hope you don't mind."

In fact, she would treasure even a stone that Chen Xuan picked up by the roadside and carry it with her at all times. Now she was really curious about what Chen Xuan would give her for the first time.

Chen Xuan had only eaten Dragon Crystal Rice twice at Lao Deng's place. This stuff was so fragrant that it could make people dizzy; you could eat several large bowls without any other dishes. If he wanted to, it wasn't that he couldn't get Dragon Crystal Rice, but he just hadn't put his mind to it usually.

He was already showing off when the little princess gently kicked him, and he looked up to say, "I told you it's nothing precious, just two bottles of beauty pills. They're quite effective; everyone who's used them says they're good. Miss Zheng is naturally beautiful, so please don't mind."

Which girl doesn't love beauty? Upon hearing this, Zheng Wanqian's eyes lit up. Although she didn't lack similar things, it depended on who gave them to her. Besides, although they weren't priceless treasures, they were still difficult for her to buy easily. Now she treasured them even more, determined not to share them with anyone. Even if Sister Zhang Yu asked for them, she would only give her a tiny bit at most, just a tiny bit.

Zhang Yu was also quite surprised that the carefree Chen Xuan could give such a girl something she wanted. If he was really so good at winning a girl's heart, he probably would have a bunch of wives and concubines by now, right?
Well, he didn't even need to try to win a girl's heart; girls were practically throwing themselves at him. He couldn't help but say, "Young Master Chen is joking. The beauty-enhancing pill? Isn't that a rare find? It's worth its weight in gold."

Is this stuff really that valuable? I have a whole bunch at home. Tsk, just like the "Xiaoyao Pill" (a type of sedative), it's true that as long as you understand what men and women want, their money is really easy to make.

Muttering to himself, Chen Xuan said dismissively, "It's really nothing good. I used to make it for fun..."

Before he could finish speaking, the little princess stepped on his foot under the table. Chen Xuan looked over in confusion, but the little princess seemed completely unconcerned.

The little princess is almost crying because of his stupidity. I'm trying my best to find you more outstanding girls, and you're ruining it for me. It's supposed to be a gift that will make girls happy and touched, but your words have diminished its effectiveness by 80%.

Zhang Yu didn't have Zheng Wanqian's complicated thoughts. She genuinely wanted to help her friend, so she looked at Chen Xuan and teased, "Young Master Chen, do you only have eyes for Wanqian? Don't you have a gift for me? We've known each other for a while; you can't show favoritism."

"Oh...aren't you together? I forgot for a moment, I'll definitely make it up next time," Chen Xuan said, slightly embarrassed. He really had forgotten to prepare a gift for Zhang Yu as well.

Zheng Wanxi blushed slightly, feeling a little embarrassed. Zhang Yu's question, "Does Chen Xuan only have eyes for her?" had stirred her heart. She wished it were true.

Pouting, Zhang Yu said unhappily, "I was so generous before, and it seems Young Master Chen has already forgotten about me. I didn't even get a gift."

It makes it seem like I've abandoned you after starting something. They even gave you money at noon, so it's really inappropriate of me not to bring a gift now. Chen Xuan apologized, "It was indeed my oversight. I apologize first, and I'll definitely make it up to you later. If there's nothing that suits Miss Zhang Yu's taste, I can also give you some pointers on martial arts; I'm quite skilled in that area."

Zhang Yu didn't press the matter further, and said tactfully, "Just kidding, Young Master Chen, don't take it seriously."

"A promise is a promise, how can I go back on my word?" Chen Xuan smiled and didn't dwell on it further. Instead, he asked, "By the way, Miss Zhang Yu, what were you so busy with on the street? You ran off before I even had a chance to ask."

To this, Zhang Yu said frankly, "It's nothing. I'm not a very smart person. My martial arts skills are barely passable, but of course, they're nothing compared to Young Master Chen's. So I can only do some errands. I had a few places to go at the time, so I couldn't exchange many pleasantries with Young Master Chen and your companions. I hope you don't mind."

"Aren't you smart?" Chen Xuan's gaze swept over Zhang Yu's chest, and he realized he had figured it out. Then he said in a daze, "Busy sending out invitations for the martial arts tournament?"

"Huh? How did you know, Young Master Chen?" Zhang Yu asked in surprise.

Handing the empty bowl to the maid beside him, gesturing for her to refill it for another night, Chen Xuan turned back and said, "Zhang Ao was bothering you back then, wasn't he? I found out from him after you left. But why does Miss Zhang Yu have to do such errands herself? Don't tell me there are too many people in this manor who don't have time."

"Young Master Chen, please don't say things that could be misunderstood. Zhang Ao isn't bothering me; he just asked for my help," Zhang Yu said, half-laughing and half-crying. He continued, "It's not that the others are unavailable, but some people's identities require my personal attention to avoid giving the impression that I'm not taking them seriously."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan suddenly realized, "I see, I understand." How come I've been talking to Young Master Chen the whole time, leaving Sister Wanqian out in the cold? This won't do.

Noticing Zheng Wanqian's adoring glances at Chen Xuan from time to time, Zhang Yu smiled and said, "Since Young Master Chen knows that I'm sending out invitations to heroes, then you should also know that this martial arts tournament is being organized behind the scenes by Sister Wanqian, right?"

“Young Master Chen, don’t listen to Sister Zhang Yu. I don’t have that much ability. I just took advantage of the situation and paid to bring everyone together. It’s nothing to mention,” Zheng Wanxi quickly said, not wanting to leave Chen Xuan with the impression of a strong woman.

The conversation naturally drifted to this point, and Chen Xuan nodded, saying, "I did learn some things from Zhang Ao. Speaking of which, the reason I've taken the liberty of coming here is precisely because I have a request."

"Young Master Chen, please don't say such things. I haven't been able to repay your life-saving grace yet, and I already feel extremely guilty. Please feel free to speak if you need anything, and I will do my best to help you," Zheng Wanqian said excitedly. She wasn't afraid that Chen Xuan would ask her for something, but she was afraid that he would ignore her. If Chen Xuan asked, she would help him to the end, even if it meant selling everything she owned.

Waving his hand, Chen Xuan laughed and said, "It's nothing serious. My wife and I were just passing through Yinlong County when we learned that a martial arts tournament was being held there, so we thought we'd go and join in the fun. We happened to run into Zhang Ao earlier and chatted for a bit, only to find out that we needed a hero's invitation to participate. Then we heard from him that the tournament was being organized by Miss Zheng, so we shamelessly came to ask for a ticket. I don't know if it's convenient or not. If there are any difficulties, then disregard what I said."

“Young Master Chen, you’re too kind. It’s just a matter of a word. There’s no need for you to come all the way here. I’ll have someone prepare it right away. I guarantee it will be an excellent spot,” Zheng Wanqian said with a smile. A quick-witted maidservant was already on her way to make the arrangements.

That's what she said, but in reality, Zheng Wanqian was extremely fortunate. If it weren't for this martial arts tournament, would Chen Xuan have come to her door by chance and had such a close and hearty chat?

At the same time, she was also a little melancholy. If she had known that meeting Chen Xuan would be so simple, she would have been able to attend the martial arts tournaments every few days without feeling ashamed. It wouldn't have cost much money, and she could even have made a profit.

Having acquaintances really makes things easier. That's settled then. Chen Xuan hesitated for a moment and offered his blessings, saying, "Then thank you very much, Miss Zheng. However, my husband and I will just go and take a look, just as passersby. You understand what I mean?"

"Understood, Young Master Chen, rest assured, I know what I'm doing," Zheng Wanxi said earnestly. In the end, it's just that Chen Xuan and the others don't want to make a fuss. That's easy. If they wanted to show off, it would be much more troublesome to arrange.

Nodding, Chen Xuan hesitated again before saying, "Then I have another favor to ask. If it's convenient, could you also help Zhang Ao get some money? My wife and I are staying at his courtyard right now. Besides, I met him back in Liuyu Academy, and he wants to join in the fun. I know this might be a bit presumptuous, but I should try my best to keep my promise. If it's really impossible, then forget it."

Not wanting to interrupt abruptly, which would be very impolite, Zheng Wanqian said cheerfully after he finished speaking, "It's nothing. Since Young Master Chen has already spoken, there's no reason not to comply. I'll have someone send the invitation to him later."

"Thank you again, Ms. Zheng. I'd like to offer you a toast," Chen Xuan said, putting down his chopsticks and raising his glass. Although it was just a matter of a few words, he couldn't take asking for help for granted.

A hint of resentment flashed in her eyes, and Zheng Wanqian raised her glass helplessly, saying, "Young Master Chen, you flatter me. Please."

The group raised their glasses and drank together. Afterwards, Zhang Yu pouted and said, "I've been almost driven crazy by that Zhang Ao these past few days. His family are just merchants, why does he have to hang around in places where martial arts practitioners congregate? That's why I didn't agree. I never expected him to come to Young Master Chen for help. It's utterly absurd. I should have just given him an invitation directly. Um, Young Master Chen, please don't misunderstand, I'm just outspoken, it's not that I have a problem with your friend."

In Zhang Yu's opinion, didn't Zhang Ao understand the weight of Chen Xuan's words? Using them to ask for a ticket to the martial arts tournament was truly a waste of talent.

Waving his hand, Chen Xuan continued to boast about the meal, saying, "We've known each other for a while, and I even stayed at his villa. It was just a coincidence."

Instead of dwelling on that, Zhang Yu asked curiously, "Young Master Chen, I'm just wondering, with your abilities, getting to the conference venue should be easy. Who could stop you? Why go through all that trouble to get an invitation?"

After swallowing a mouthful of food, Chen Xuan laughed and said, "That's different. There's a difference between coming uninvited and participating normally, provided you don't know about the invitation. Otherwise, I really would have secretly brought my family to watch."

She genuinely couldn't understand the difference, but Zhang Yu didn't dwell on it. Her only thought was to help her best friend. On a whim, she said, "If you ask me, Young Master Chen, you shouldn't go back to Zhang Ao's courtyard today. Why bother going back and forth? Why not just stay at Wanqian's place? There are plenty of rooms here. Tomorrow we can all go to the martial arts tournament together."

Hearing this, Zheng Wanxi's heart skipped a beat. If Chen Xuan agreed, wouldn't they be living under the same roof? So she looked at Chen Xuan expectantly, but would he agree?

As the saying goes, men and women should be different, and besides, their relationship wasn't that close. Chen Xuan smiled and politely declined, saying, "I have a family to support, which makes things inconvenient for me. It's already inappropriate for me to come and bother you for such a trivial matter, so I won't bother you any longer. You should go back later; we'll see each other at the conference tomorrow. I just hope I don't interfere with your important business."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Wanxi's eyes darkened and she felt disappointed, wondering if there was something she hadn't been treated well.

"Young Master Chen, you're too kind. We have plenty of guest rooms here, and the environment is quite nice. We couldn't be happier. Why would we bother you?" Zhang Yu invited again, giving Zheng Wanqian a disappointed look and secretly pinching her butt. He gestured to her with his eyes, "Silly girl, say something! This is a rare opportunity. Are you really going to miss it?"

Upon receiving the signal, Zheng Wanqian immediately looked over expectantly and pleaded, "Young Master Chen, Your Highness, if you don't mind, please stay at my humble abode."

Everything was ready over there, and we couldn't let it go to waste, so Chen Xuan smiled and shook his head to politely decline. Then, he changed the subject and asked curiously, "By the way, Miss Zheng, may I ask why you wanted to push for this martial arts tournament? Don't misunderstand, it's just curiosity. If it's inconvenient to tell me, then pretend I didn't say anything."

It's really unreasonable. As a merchant family, and one that is so wealthy, the Zheng family really has no need to get involved with the underworld. Even if they have any trouble, wouldn't it be simple to resolve it through the government?
Although wealthy businessmen have connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles, it's a bit much that this martial arts tournament has become common knowledge.

Upon hearing this, before Zheng Wanqian could speak, Zhang Yu said with an expression of admiration mixed with helplessness, "What else could it be? It's because Wanqian is kind-hearted..."

"Sister, eat quickly, or the food will get cold," Zheng Wanxi interrupted immediately, glancing at Chen Xuan and the others somewhat embarrassedly, clearly trying to avoid the real reason behind it, or perhaps she just didn't want to mention it in front of Chen Xuan.

Slightly taken aback, Chen Xuan wondered if there was some hidden reason, then smiled and said, "I was being presumptuous."

However, Zhang Yu ignored Zheng Wanqian's objections and continued, "It was clearly a well-intentioned act, and nothing to be ashamed of. Sister Wanqian told me not to say it, but I'm going to say it anyway..." (End of this chapter)