Chapter 176: Old Acquaintance

Commander, what's wrong? Guanghui asked Qin Ge.

I felt like I just saw an acquaintance, but that's impossible—how could he be in Shenhua City? Qin Ge said doubtfully.

Then Commander, why not go take a look? If it's an acquaintance, you won't miss this reunion; if not, you lose nothing, right? Guanghui said to Qin Ge.

"Mm." Qin Ge nodded. "You're right—going to see will tell us everything."

So Qin Ge took Guanghui and walked toward the direction he had just seen.

Making their way through the crowded flow of people, the two arrived at the mouth of an alley. Qin Ge didn't stop but directly pulled Guanghui into the alley.

The alley wasn't long; when Qin Ge reached the middle and stopped, he saw a somewhat familiar stall and couldn't help feeling excited.

"Commander, is that an acquaintance?" Guanghui asked Qin Ge.

Qin Ge excitedly nodded. "If I wasn't sure just now, seeing this sign now makes me certain."

Guanghui followed Qin Ge's gaze to the sign, which read "Wan Ji Breakfast Stall," and said, "Wan Ji Breakfast Stall? I've never heard of that name."

Qin Ge turned to Guanghui and said, "Do you remember when we were doing that mission earlier? Did I tell you something? When I first drifted into this world, I was lodging with an elderly couple in Minghai City."

"That elderly couple's breakfast stall was called Wan Ji Breakfast Stall. Plus, seeing that familiar figure just now, I'm certain that, barring any accident, Wan Lao and Wan Da Niang have come to Shenhua City."

"Ah, that's wonderful!" Guanghui smiled. "Then Commander, why not knock on the door now to confirm?"

"'Mm.' Qin Ge nodded firmly, released his hold on Guanghui's hand, straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, walked to the door, reached out, and knocked."

"'Who is it? The breakfast is sold out; if you want to buy, come back tomorrow!'"

The person inside seemed to hear Qin Ge's knocking and said somewhat impatiently.

But hearing that voice, Qin Ge felt no anger; instead, he became even more certain that this voice was Wan Lao's from before.

"'Wan Lao, it's me, I'm Qin Ge.' Qin Ge said excitedly to the person inside the door."

"'Huh?'"

A surprised voice came from inside, followed by hurried footsteps, then the door was opened from within, revealing a figure very familiar to Qin Ge.

"'Surely it's you, you little rascal—how did you find this place? Come in quickly!' This person was none other than the old Wan from Minghai City; he excitedly said to Qin Ge, reaching out to grab Qin Ge's arm and pull him inside."

"'Wan Lao, wait, I'm not alone.' Qin Ge hurriedly said, then stepped aside to reveal Guanghui behind him."

"'I've told you many times to call me Lao Wan—is this young lady with you?' Seeing Guanghui smiling, Lao Wan blinked, then said to Qin Ge."

"'Yes, she's my shipgirl Guanghui.' Qin Ge said to Lao Wan."

Then Qin Ge turned to Guanghui and introduced, "Guanghui, this is the Wan Lao I often mentioned to you."

Guanghui gave a ladylike salute to Lao Wan and said, "Hello, Lao Wan."

"'Young lady, just call me Lao Wan—don't call me Wan Lao like that rascal does; I've told him many times, but he won't change.' Lao Wan quickly nodded to Guanghui."

"'Also, you and the young lady come inside; standing at the doorway like that—what are you doing? The elderly lady is at home.'"

As the old companion finished speaking, Qin Ge and Guanghui followed Lao Wan into the house. Lao Wan closed the door while shouting toward the interior, "Shopkeeper, come out quick—look who's here."

"'What are you shouting for? Who's here?' An old woman muttered as she came out from the inner room. Seeing Qin Ge and Guanghui standing beside Lao Wan, her expression changed instantly."

"'Little Qin?' Wan Da Niang blinked, then quickly stepped forward, grabbed Qin Ge's two outstretched arms, and examined him closely. 'How did you find this place?'"

Qin Ge smiled. "Elder Lady, it's you who should explain—why did you leave Minghai City for Shenhua City without telling me? If I hadn't happened to see Wan Lao's back today, I wouldn't have known you were already in Shenhua City."

Wan Da Niang smiled, glanced at Guanghui, then said to Qin Ge, "This story is long; let's sit down later and talk slowly. Is this young lady with you?"

Qin Ge nodded, just as he had introduced Guanghui to Lao Wan, and introduced Guanghui to Wan Da Niang.

"'Hello, Wan Da Niang, I'm the shipgirl Guanghui of the Commander, pleased to meet you.' Guanghui said politely to Wan Da Niang."

"'Good, good, good, the young lady is really pretty.' Wan Da Niang happily said, then turned her face, put on a stern look at Lao Wan, who was standing there smiling foolishly, and said, 'What are you standing here for? Don't you know to go make tea? Are you waiting for me to make it?'"

"'Look at me—I got distracted having fun, I'll go make it now.' Lao Wan, not daring to talk back to Wan Da Niang, immediately trotted off to make tea."

Qin Ge wanted to stop him, but Wan Da Niang blocked him, saying, "Little Qin, let him go; hurry sit down and tell Elder Lady how you've been lately."

Seeing Wan Da Niang say that, Qin Ge stopped speaking and instead followed Wan Da Niang to a nearby table, sitting down together with Guanghui.

"'I've been fine lately. After leaving Minghai City, on the first day I arrived in Shenhua City, I successfully entered the Commander Academy. Although there were some minor hiccups, they were all perfectly resolved in the end.'"

"'Now the Dean and other instructors at the Academy treat me well, and I have also become an instructor at the Commander Academy; overall, I'm doing very well.' Qin Ge said to Wan Da Niang."

"'Wow, you've become a teacher—great!' Wan Da Niang exclaimed sincerely. 'Back in Minghai City, I often saw you running to the library; I knew you were a very learned person. I never expected that, after just one year at the Commander Academy, you'd already become an instructor.'"

"'Hehe, that's all thanks to the Dean's trust and the other instructors' support—nothing special.' Qin Ge said to Wan Da Niang. 'But I'm surprised: why did you, who were doing well in Minghai City, suddenly come to Shenhua City?'"

"'Well.' Wan Da Niang smiled. 'That's a long story; let me tell you slowly...'"