Chapter 74 Afraid You’d Starve

Chapter 74: Afraid You Might Starve

Cheng Ge’s great-grandfather, Cheng Yi, had truly lived to the ripe old age of 105, his life filled with legendary tales, as a founding hero of the dynasty.

Cheng Ge didn’t know if it was because he had been around him so long that he had picked up his mischievous and unruly nature and mannerisms, learning them to a tee.

For others, it might be skipping a generation, but for Cheng Ge, it was skipping two; when those two got together, everyone dreaded it.

Rumor has it, when Cheng Ge was just four years old, he asked Cheng Yi if he could eat spicy strips.

Spicy strips were such a rare treat that Cheng Ge could almost never get them.

It all started one day when he went to a neighbor’s house to play, and that kid pulled out a big bag of spicy strips from a certain brand, generously gave him one.

Cheng Ge took a bite and was blown away—there was this kind of top-tier snack in the world?

But the other kid didn’t have many left and didn’t share anymore.

After tasting something so good, the lettuce and earthy-tasting mushrooms he usually ate at home suddenly seemed disgusting.

Back at home, he lost his appetite completely, couldn’t eat or sleep, and even dreamed about his bed being covered in spicy strips.

In the end, he couldn’t hold back and asked his parents to buy some, which was, of course, immediately rejected.

Unwilling to give up, that very night he went to find Cheng Yi, knowing that old man would have a trick up his sleeve.

Sure enough, after Cheng Ge explained his request, Cheng Yi agreed without a second thought.

But the hard part was that Cheng Yi was also broke, because he had a sweet tooth in his youth and later his blood sugar got a bit out of control.

The Cheng family, afraid something might happen to him and knowing he was a glutton, controlled his diet and daily routine strictly, not a single cent ever making it into his hands.

But as they say, everyone has their own way of getting things done.

The two immediately fell back on the most basic form of barter.

Cheng Yi took out a bunch of small square boxes from the big safe.

Each box held a single medal, and Cheng Yi told him to pick one to trade for spicy strips.

Cheng Ge didn’t stand on ceremony; he carefully selected a medal with a big red star engraved in the middle and marched triumphantly to the corner store.

When he slammed that medal down on the counter, he looked as smug as an old feudal landlord who had somehow survived the revolution.

In the end… Cheng Ge got his wish, returning home with a whole box of big spicy strips, along with a shopkeeper who was absolutely traumatized.

That night, Cheng’s parents gave him a good bamboo shoot stir-fry (a spanking).

And Cheng Yi just came out, glanced at him without a word, and went straight back to his room, locking the door.

Cheng Ge was utterly desperate; he was, of course, furious. The next day, he fed Cheng Yi’s eight-year-old Zhuding Ziluo goldfish until it died from overeating.

But later, when Cheng Ge was in junior high, Cheng Yi was fishing at home and passed away quietly.

By rights, living to that age is considered a happy death, but sometimes Cheng Ge still misses that old man.

Cheng Ge let out a soft sigh, placed his piece, and said calmly, “Thank you for the game.”

Lin Nanshu breathed a sigh of relief and put his pieces back into the bowl.

“Let’s go another round!” Cheng Ge said.

Lin Nanshu’s hand paused in midair, but he still nodded.

But the game never happened, because the chicken soup Cheng Ge had been eagerly awaiting arrived.

“Master Cheng, it’s time to eat.” The door lock clicked open from outside, and several servants walked in carrying trays.

Cheng Ge looked up and saw that it was almost dark; normally at this hour he would have finished eating.

But he didn’t think much of it—maybe the kitchen was busy.

He moved the low table with the chessboard out of the way, and the servants laid out the food.

A young servant in a blue-gray jacket stood beside Lin Nanshu and gently placed a large pot of wild chicken soup in front of him.

The boy’s eyes swept over Lin Nanshu’s face, then glanced behind Cheng Ge.

Lin Nanshu instinctively looked at him, but before his gaze could settle, he heard a crisp shattering sound.

“Damn! Ouch…” Cheng Ge’s thigh was soaked; the ceramic bowl that held the soup had smashed on the floor.

“Muyu!” Lin Nanshu rushed to Cheng Ge’s side, his voice full of worry.

Fortunately, the soup wasn’t too hot; it was just a bump, nothing serious.

The surrounding servants immediately gathered, kneeling in panic.

“Get up, it’s no big deal.” Cheng Ge waved his hand dismissively, signaling everyone not to worry.

The servant who had brought the soup kept his head down, his voice trembling: “Master, I’m truly sorry, my hand slipped.” Cheng Ge glanced at him but didn’t scold him much.

Lin Nanshu looked at Cheng Ge with concern, “Go change your clothes first, don’t catch a cold.”

Cheng Ge nodded and turned to go inside to change.

Lin Nanshu looked back at the retreating servants, a strange expression flickering in his eyes.

But before he could think further, a cold, sharp voice suddenly came from outside: “Why is the door open? Has someone been here?”

The guards glanced at their master and immediately looked down at their leader, signaling for him to speak up.

A chill went down the guard leader’s spine, sensing something off in his master’s tone.

“Ah… it’s just that Master Lin was here just now…”

Cui Ji’s face darkened instantly. He’d gone out and someone had snuck into his place. “I told you to guard the door and not let anyone in, are you deaf?”

The guards: “???” Did he really say that?

The guard leader looked inside the room, then back at his master.

Strangely, his mind recalled the words of the secret guard chief from the next compound; could it be that his master actually had a thing for Master Cheng…

His heart skipped a beat. If so, Master Cheng was in serious danger!

As sweat beaded on his forehead, the guard leader steeled himself and answered loudly: “No… Your subordinates remember your orders clearly. Master Lin did try to enter, but we refused him flat out—didn't let him set foot inside the courtyard!

Just now… it was the kitchen delivering meals, so we left the door open.”

Only then did Cui Ji's expression soften a bit, and he strode into the room.

Cheng Ge had just finished dressing when he heard the noise outside. He was about to go out and help his buddy the guard get off the hook.

However, as he turned around, he saw Lin Nanshu slip in and hide.

Cheng Ge was about to speak, but Lin Nanshu made a shushing gesture and whispered, "The prince doesn't seem to want me coming to find you. Let me lay low for a bit."

Cheng Ge felt a bit helpless, not understanding why Cui Ji held such strong hostility toward Lin Nanshu.

He turned and walked directly out of the inner room. As soon as he came out, he saw Cui Ji's scowling face.

"Just got off duty? Have you eaten?"

Cui Ji's gaze swept across the table, then looked back at Cheng Ge.

Cheng Ge followed his gaze and saw two sets of chopsticks and bowls neatly placed on the table.

Cheng Ge was speechless.

"I just guessed you hadn't eaten yet, so I had an extra set of utensils prepared, afraid you'd starve." Cheng Ge started spinning a story.

Upon hearing this, Cui Ji's expression instantly softened a lot. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and he responded with feigned indifference, "Hmm."