Chapter 6739
Old acquaintance
If Xiao Chen could acquire more and better antiques, it would be an incredible stroke of luck.
The mysterious power contained within those antiques will greatly aid his cultivation, and may even allow him to advance further on his martial arts path.
Night fell like a giant black ribbon, slowly enveloping the entire city.
As the city lights began to twinkle, Xiao Chen had no interest in appreciating the night view. Waves of hunger were rising in his stomach, making it unbearable.
Although the villa was decorated in an extremely luxurious manner, with every detail exuding nobility and extraordinary taste, it seemed empty and devoid of any warmth or life in Xiao Chen's eyes at this moment.
He increasingly missed the lively atmosphere of the neighborhood, the laughter of his neighbors, and the aroma of food that filled the air.
Yun Yuyan has not returned since she left.
Xiao Chen felt uneasy and quickly took out his phone to dial her number, but all he heard was a cold "beep beep" sound, and no one answered.
This made him somewhat worried. He frowned deeply and muttered to himself, "Where did this girl go? Could something have happened at home?"
After all, the Yun family was the family that his wife Jiang Meng had always protected. Although he didn't know Jiang Meng's current situation, since he had this relationship with Jiang Meng, he had to at least help the Yun family.
But then I thought, the Yun family is one of the ten great families of the ancient city, with deep roots and great power in the city, so it's highly unlikely that anything bad will happen to them.
Thinking about it this way, his worries lessened a little.
But right now my stomach is so hungry, it's been rumbling nonstop, and there's hardly any food at home, so I can't cook at all.
Xiao Chen rubbed his empty stomach and decided to treat himself to a good meal.
He was already tired of the usual delicacies, but at this moment, he suddenly remembered the barbecue he had on the street when he was doing business in the ancient city. The taste was absolutely amazing, and he still misses it to this day.
In his memory, the skewers sizzled on the charcoal fire, oil dripped onto the embers, sparking tiny flames, followed by a rich aroma that seemed to linger around his nose for a long time.
He couldn't help but swallow, the saliva swirling in his throat, further whetting his appetite.
Xiao Chen quickly walked to the roadside and flagged down a taxi.
He opened the car door, plopped down inside, and said to the driver, "Driver, to the urban village."
Outside the car window, familiar street scenes and unfamiliar skyscrapers rushed past, and he was filled with unease, fearing that the food street that held his youthful memories had long since disappeared.
He once left behind so much laughter and sweat here, and those wonderful memories play like a movie in his mind.
When the taxi slowly came to a stop, Xiao Chen looked out the window and saw the familiar sign, and his heart finally settled down a little.
Although the sign was somewhat old and the lettering on it was a little blurry, it felt incredibly familiar to him.
He paid the fare, got out of the car impatiently, and walked into the food street.
As soon as you step into the food street, you are greeted by a lively atmosphere.
The calls of vendors, the laughter of diners, and the aromas of various delicacies filling the air intertwine to create a vibrant and lively scene.
In the midst of this lively scene, he suddenly thought of someone.
The man's name was Liu Peng. At the time, Xiao Chen was doing business in the ancient city. Although he wasn't afraid of the open and covert attacks from his competitors, his family members were inevitably in danger. Once, when his son was playing outside, he was targeted by several people with ill intentions. Just when his son was in danger, Liu Peng stepped forward and did everything he could to protect his son.
Because of this incident, Liu Peng was seriously injured and spent a full six months in the hospital.
Xiao Chen always remembered this kindness, but later, due to various reasons, he gradually lost contact with Liu Peng.
At this moment, looking at this familiar food street, Liu Peng's figure clearly appeared before his eyes again.
Looking back now, Xiao Chen is still extremely grateful to Liu Peng.
Back then, Liu Peng risked his own safety to save his son, fighting against those thugs and sustaining several cuts, his clothes stained with blood.
Although he gave Liu Peng over a million yuan as a thank-you fee without hesitation afterward, in his heart, this money could never repay Liu Peng's life-saving grace.
That was a matter of life and death for his son; he could never repay such a debt of gratitude in his entire life.
Later, he heard that Liu Peng used that money to buy a shop in the food street and opened a barbecue restaurant.
This food street was a place he used to frequent, holding countless fond memories. So today, he came here specifically to try Liu Peng's cooking and catch up with his old friend.
Strangely, Liu Peng was nowhere to be seen in the store; instead, there was only a woman in her thirties and a teenager.
The woman was dressed simply, wearing a slightly worn apron, and was busy tidying up the tables and chairs, her face showing signs of fatigue.
The boy helped organize the seasonings, his movements somewhat clumsy.
Xiao Chen guessed that the woman was probably Liu Peng's wife, and the boy was probably Liu Peng's son.
The shop was deserted, with only a few tables standing there forlornly, a far cry from the bustling, packed scene Xiao Chen remembered.
In the past, this place was always full of diners, with constant laughter and the aroma of grilled skewers filling the air, making one's mouth water.
But now, it seems unusually deserted, as if it has been forgotten by time.
Xiao Chen found a seat by the window and sat down, only then noticing a relocation notice posted on the wall.
The notice stated that the shop would soon be relocated to a remote new street in the district. The new address was not close to this place, and the customer traffic would be far less.
Xiao Chen was filled with doubt, and his brows furrowed tightly.
It's important to understand that it would be impossible for a new district to develop in less than three to five years.
It's still a desolate place with few people. How can a shop do well there?
Besides, this store was bought by Liu Peng. If they really want to move, they will have to rent a new store and renovate it, which would be a lot of trouble.
Moreover, the losses from this relocation are considerable. How could Liu Peng make such a decision?
"Boss lady, give me three lamb kidneys, one grilled eggplant, ten skewers of grilled lamb, and a bottle of beer!" Xiao Chen called out, his tone filled with anticipation.
He thought he would first try the barbecue, and then ask the proprietress about Liu Peng's situation.
However, the proprietress looked up at him, her eyes full of wariness, as if she were looking at a stranger.
Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat as he realized he looked decades younger than he had back then. (End of Chapter)