Publish Time: 2026-06-21 03:32:00

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«Chapter 518: Come Eat Peaches When Free

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A man and a cat walked along the road.

The Tabby Cat glanced at Chen Changsheng and called out, “Good Human Chen?”

“What does Lihua want to ask now?”

“Was that woman just now your old flame?”

“Hmm?” Chen Changsheng paused. “Who taught you that phrase?”

“Huahua did. He often says that Lihua is Mo Yu’s old flame.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Lihua looked up. “So you still haven’t said yet! Is she your old flame or not?”

“Does Lihua really understand what ‘old flame’ means?”

“Isn’t it just a way to say you know each other really well?”

“That can be part of it, but usually it means a past lover.”

“Lover?” The Tabby Cat blinked. “What’s that?”

“Has Lihua heard of dao companions?”

The Tabby Cat shook its head. Maybe it had heard before, but it had forgotten now.

“It’s about the feelings between a man and a woman.”

“Oh! Lihua knows that.”

Chen Changsheng paused. “Why do you know this?”

“Back at the mansion, Lihua saw men and women hugging by the lake. Mo Yu explained it to me later.”

“Lihua is indeed very eager to learn.”

“Mhm.”

The Tabby Cat walked alongside Chen Changsheng.

But as they walked, it seemed to remember something else.

“Did I forget something?”

“Did you?”

“Oh well.”

The two moved forward, and after a long while, a city loomed into view.

Returning to Qingshan City, they saw the streets bustling much more than before.

After trade reopened, Da Xiang also began to value this rich mountain city. Merchant taxes were lowered a bit, the trading routes flourished, and so the place gradually grew.

Seeing it now, Chen Changsheng almost didn’t recognize it.

“So many people.”

“Lihua mustn’t talk later.”

“Mhm.”

Chen Changsheng made his way into the city following the path from his memory.

After walking through several streets, Chen Changsheng spotted a wine shop in the distance.

It was Li Lao’er’s wine shop, still standing in the same spot.

He didn’t plan to buy any wine today, though. Miss Aqing had gifted him two jars earlier, which was plenty.

Inside the wine shop, Li Lao’er was chatting with someone. He glanced up just in time to see a figure pass by the road in front of the shop.

He paused, but didn’t get a clear look at the person’s face.

‘Why does he look familiar?’

Li Lao’er mumbled to himself, but racked his brain without figuring it out.

Assuming it was just a trick of his mind, he returned to his conversation.

After all, over ten years was far too long. Even the name “Mr. Chen” had become hard to recall.

Past the wine shop, another few dozen steps.

Chen Changsheng halted at a lane corner.

The Tabby Cat whispered, “Why are we here?”

“I used to live here.” Chen Changsheng said.

They walked into the lane. Chen Changsheng turned right into a narrower path, finally stopping before a courtyard gate.

He reached out, undid the lock, and pushed the gate open.

Chen Changsheng had expected the courtyard to be overgrown with weeds after all these years. But stepping inside, he found everything clean and tidy. Few traces of dust lay on the rafters or the doors.

It seemed someone often came to tend to it.

The Tabby Cat hopped into the yard. Looking left and right, it remarked, “You lived here? It’s not that great.”

“This courtyard belonged to a friend I once had.”

“Dead too?”

“He has indeed passed away.”

Chen Changsheng gave a helpless smile. “But Lihua shouldn’t ask questions like that anymore in the future, alright?”

“Can’t I ask that?”

“It’s not forbidden, but it’s very impolite.”

The Tabby Cat nodded. “Lihua remembers. Won’t ask that way again.”

Chen Changsheng nodded back. Whether Lihua truly remembered, he wasn’t sure.

He sat down on the long bench in the yard and breathed a long sigh.

Much like Flowing Cloud Temple, this place always gave Chen Changsheng a sense of home. Sitting on the bench, a faint weariness washed over him, urging him to take a nap.

After resting for a bit, Chen Changsheng went out to buy some groceries, meaning to cook a meal.

Worth mentioning was this: not only the courtyard, but even the pots and pans in the kitchen were spotless. Ruyi probably did the cleaning, or perhaps the girl from across the way.

Chen Changsheng glanced up. He wasn’t sure if Miss Yun still lived there.

Tap tap…

The rhythmic sound of chopping filled the air.

The Tabby Cat crouched nearby, licking its paws. “Good Human Chen knows how to cook?”

“A little.”

“Oh. Lihua thought only your old flames knew that.”

“Miss Aqing is not an old flame. She’s just my… lady.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

After finishing with the vegetables, Chen Changsheng started the fire.

Smoke curled up from the stove, filling the kitchen before trickling out through the gaps in the roof tiles.

“Go open the window.”

“How?”

“Never mind, I’ll do it myself.”

Chen Changsheng walked over and pushed the window open. The rising smoke drifted outside.

That way, it wasn’t so choking anymore.

“Good Human Chen.”

“Mhm?”

“Where is Lihua’s bowl?”

“It’s not ready yet. Why do you need the bowl?”

“Waiting to eat.”

Chen Changsheng smiled in amusement. “Is it that tempting?”

“Mhm.”

Chen Changsheng shook his head and pulled out its bowl from his sleeve.

He busied himself in the simple kitchen.

Beside him sat the Tabby Cat, watching quietly. An empty bowl sat in front of it, eagerly anticipating the meal.

Suddenly, the Tabby Cat wrinkled its nose and sniffed the air.

It perked up and padded outside.

“Where are you going?”

“Lihua smells Dried Fish!”

“I didn’t cook any dried fish.”

“It’s outside!”

Chen Changsheng paused and followed the Tabby Cat out.

The cat swiftly climbed the courtyard wall.

Chen Changsheng looked over. Its eyes sparkled as if spotting something marvelous, undoubtedly something delicious to it.

“Hmm…”

The Tabby Cat licked its chops and swallowed. Its eyes locked onto a little girl walking down the lane.

The small girl in a red dress was clearly drunk, swaying as she walked, clutching an empty wine jug.

She’d had quite a lot to drink.

At that moment, Yu Hongjin suddenly sensed a dangerous gaze.

She jolted, instantly much more awake.

“Who is it?!”

Yu Hongjin scanned her surroundings and spotted a Tabby Cat crouched on a rooftop beside her.

Seeing it was just a stray cat, she relaxed a little. “Stupid cat! Why’s Fish Master staring at me? Think you can eat me?”

The Tabby Cat blinked. Suddenly, it spoke. “But you’re clearly a fish. Why are you in human form?”

“!!!”

Yu Hongjin froze, her eyes snapping wide open to meet the Tabby Cat’s stare.

In an instant, she blew up!

«Chapter 518: Come Eat Peaches When Free

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