Chapter 154: Four Years Later

"Young Master Guan?"

Lin Sangqian looked at him in surprise, a flicker of joy passing through her heart before she even realized it.

"Miss Lin." Guan Yanqing gave her a slight nod. "It has been a long time."

"Indeed," Lin Sangqian said. "It has been several months, hasn't it? Have you finished your business? Are you back in town to stay?"

"No, I came to say goodbye," Guan Yanqing replied.

Lin Sangqian froze. Goodbye?

"Yes, things have unfolded beyond my expectations. Once I leave this time, I am not sure when I will be able to return to this town. After some thought, I felt I should come back and bid you farewell."

Lin Sangqian didn't know what to say. Snowflakes drifted slowly from the sky, landing on her hair and shoulders. After a long silence, she asked, "We will see each other again, won't we?"

Guan Yanqing smiled and nodded. "Yes, we will definitely meet again."

Lin Sangqian relaxed slightly and said, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? We are having hot pot today. Why don't you stay and join us?"

"I cannot, I must leave immediately," Guan Yanqing said, a hint of regret in his tone.

He feared that after this departure, it might be years before he would taste Lin Sangqian's cooking again. He would have to face meal after meal that tasted like flavorless wax.

"So soon? Then, wait a moment!"

Lin Sangqian turned and ran toward the kitchen. A moment later, she came back and pressed a package into Guan Yanqing's hands. "These are cookies I baked this morning. They can be stored for several days. Take them with you for the road."

Guan Yanqing accepted them, feeling the weight of the package in his hands. "Thank you," he said. "That was very thoughtful of you."

Lin Sangqian wanted to say more, but among a thousand words, only one remained: "Take care on your journey."

"I will."

Guan Yanqing left, and Lin Sangqian stood rooted to the spot for a long while. It was only when the snow began to fall more heavily and Zhao Lan'er and Xiao Yawen came out to find her that she hurried back inside.

"Mother! Father has sent another letter!"

Liao Shuxia immediately set down her work and walked over, eagerly taking the letter from her. After reading it, her expression turned grave. She collapsed into a chair, her face deathly pale, and murmured, "The day has finally come..."

"Mother, what's wrong?" Lin Sangqian’s heart tightened, and she snatched the letter. She hadn't read it yet; had something happened to Lin Hongda? The others in the family crowded around.

In the letter, Lin Hongda wrote that war had truly begun. Unlike the small skirmishes when the Yidian people had raided them, this was a full-scale clash between two armies. On the battlefield, it was a fight for survival—a matter of life and death.

"What shall we do?" Liao Shuxia worried. "On the battlefield, blades have no eyes..."

"It will be fine, Mother," Lin Wenyan comforted her. "Father’s skills are excellent; he will definitely be all right."

"That’s right, that’s right," Lin Beitao added. "Father isn't a fool! He surely knows to run if he can't win. Besides, who could beat him? If he weren't formidable, General Xiao wouldn't have taken him along."

Liao Shuxia sighed. "I hope so."

Lin Sangqian said nothing, silently heading to the kitchen to prepare the hot pot broth and ingredients. The weather was so cold, and her heart felt cold as well; they needed something hot to warm their bodies. She hoped that far away, Lin Hongda would also be able to eat well and sleep soundly.

This time, Lin Sangqian made extra sesame sauce and prepared spicy, tomato, and mushroom broths.

"When I lived with my father, we had hot pot too," Xiao Yawen said. "But back then, we only used plain water to boil things. I never knew one could add so many seasonings—it’s delicious." She noticed that everyone in the family seemed a bit down, so she made a point to share many interesting stories from the past.

After the hot pot, the mood in the room lightened a little. Liao Shuxia, who had never been a believer in Buddha, now kept a small statue in her room. Every night before bed, she prayed devoutly, hoping for Lin Hongda’s safety. Lin Sangqian and the others also hoped the war would end quickly so that Lin Hongda could return home.

Yet, no one expected that four years would pass, and the war would still be ongoing.

...

Another snowfall had just ended. Lin Sangqian walked across the snow, feeling the chill and rubbing her hands together incessantly.

"Miss Lin, would you like a roasted sweet potato?" the street vendor greeted her warmly.

"Yes, please, I’ll take one." Lin Sangqian fished out a copper coin and handed it to him, a smile appearing on her face.

The vendor and the people around them looked on, momentarily stunned. After Lin Sangqian left with her roasted sweet potato, the crowd began to whisper.

"Miss Lin has grown even more beautiful over the years! I have never seen a girl in this town more beautiful than her!"

"And look at the business she’s running! I bet she owns half the shops in town, doesn't she?"

"Half is an exaggeration, but it’s certainly a lot."

"Has Miss Lin reached the age of adulthood? I’m in a hurry to arrange a marriage for her!"

"Not yet! I asked Miss Zhao from her household a few days ago; she said it’s still more than three months away."

"Oh! That’s so frustrating!"

"What? You want to arrange a marriage for our Shopkeeper Lin? Even if she were of age, do you think anyone in this town is worthy of her?"

"Exactly! Our Shopkeeper Lin is so wonderful, I bet she’s worthy of even a prince or a royal!"

"Haha, you speak lightly, but where in this small place would we find a prince or royal?"

"Hey, doesn't she have two other young ladies in her house? One surnamed Zhao and one surnamed Xiao. They are a bit older than Miss Lin; they should be of age by now."

"Oh, you’re still thinking about those two? Even though they aren't married yet, their future husbands have already been chosen! It just hasn't been made public yet!"

Lin Sangqian arrived at her fried chicken shop. The shop had since been upgraded and expanded, now featuring a second floor. It sold not just drumsticks and wings, but also burgers, chicken cutlets, and chicken racks. The chefs here were carefully selected and trained by Lin Sangqian, and the chicken they made tasted exactly like hers.

"Shopkeeper, you're here!" The clerk beamed as soon as he saw her. "We haven't seen you for a few days!"

"I was busy scouting for a new location over the last two days, so I didn't have time to come by," Lin Sangqian laughed.

"What? You’re opening a new shop again?" The clerk’s jaw dropped. "What kind of business this time?"

"It’s not a new venture, just a branch of the cake shop at the east end of town. Otherwise, the customers there have to walk a long way to buy them."

"That makes sense. By the way, here is the ledger for the recent period. Would you like to take a look?"

Lin Sangqian had just taken the book when she heard a roar from the second floor: "What do you mean by that? Are you looking down on me?"