Chapter 45: Encountering an Old Classmate (Please follow and recommend!)

The proficiency in Tai Chi had also improved significantly, rising by fifty points, so now it stood at Tai Chi LV1 (150/500).

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Last night, the stars dotted the sky; today, the sun shone brightly, perfect for drying medicinal herbs.

Chen Anquan woke up early, but instead of his usual morning exercise, he washed, dried, and sorted the herbs he had gathered the previous evening.

After breakfast, he slung a white woven sack over his back.

Inside were more than twenty types of medicinal herbs he’d personally dug up, including some less valuable ones like Polygonatum, Raw Rehmannia, and Processed Rehmannia, all of which were nourishing varieties.

He imitated the way medicine vendors packaged their goods, wrapping different types of herbs in plastic bags. He had also bought a professional medicinal scale online.

Once everything was ready, Chen Anquan decided to run to the town.

He sprinted along the road, his speed nearly matching the passing cars.

Arriving at Maple Wood Village, he passed the small grocery store where he often shopped.

Seated at the entrance, the shopkeeper’s wife was browsing short videos on her phone when she suddenly called out, “Hey, handsome, wait a moment.”

Chen Anquan, sack slung across his back, paused and looked at her in confusion.

Though he was a frequent customer, he had never struck up a conversation with the shopkeeper’s wife.

Noticing his puzzled expression, the woman’s breathing grew rapid, her ample chest rising and falling, and her cheeks flushed as if she’d had too much to drink.

She gripped her phone in both hands, turning the screen toward him. “Handsome, is this you?”

She had opened a popular short video app, one Chen Anquan himself used regularly.

The video was a bit blurry—it seemed to be taken at night. A young man, just over twenty, stood on a cement floor, occasionally spinning and leaping.

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Chen Anquan’s mouth twitched as he looked up at the shopkeeper’s wife, who was staring at him dreamily. “That person looks a lot like me!”

She nodded. “I thought the guy in the video looked just like you, so I called out. I didn’t expect you to be such a talented athlete!”

“Athlete?” Chen Anquan was puzzled. The video showed him performing authentic breakdancing, which was...

Suddenly, realization dawned.

“That’s called breakdancing. I loved it when I was young. Next time at the Olympics, breakdancing will be an official event. How can you not be an athlete?” The woman’s tone brimmed with excitement, as if she’d seen her idol. Her body began to sway to the video’s background music.

It turned out she was a breakdance enthusiast herself!

Soon, she composed herself. “Handsome, my daughter also does street dance. Interested in meeting her?”

“Really?” Chen Anquan was surprised. Ever since he’d demonstrated his skills, these older ladies had started introducing potential matches to him.

But he wasn’t particularly interested in street dance; in his mind, street dancers were rebellious kids.

“I’m not lying. She runs a dance studio in the county, teaching children street dance.”

“I see. Thank you though, aunty. I’ll be heading off now.” Chen Anquan smiled, politely declining.

The shopkeeper’s wife sighed with regret. It was rare to meet such a skilled breakdancer; her daughter would probably like him. Yet, despite her initiative, he still refused.

“Forget it. I won’t worry about her anymore!” she muttered, returning to her short videos.

Chen Anquan shopped here often, and they would occasionally chat, giving her a brief impression that he was quite a decent young man.

Continuing his run, Chen Anquan couldn’t help but feel a touch of pride—being admired by others, one after another, was a delightful sensation.

Just as he passed the gate of a courtyard, he suddenly saw an SUV burst out from behind the gate!

He dodged to the side and, with a burst of speed, managed to avoid disaster at the last moment, but his shoulder collided heavily with the SUV’s side mirror.

Honk, honk, honk!

The SUV stopped at the roadside, and the driver’s window rolled down, revealing a round-faced man.

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“Damn! Are you looking to get killed? Didn’t you see my car coming out?” The round-faced man cursed at Chen Anquan, especially after seeing the shattered side mirror—his face grew fierce.

“Boss, look what you’ve done! You broke my mirror! This is an expensive car!”

Chen Anquan stood where he was, put down the sack, and gradually calmed his breathing. He glanced at the already broken mirror. “Boss, you were the one driving so fast out the gate! If there had been a child by the roadside, it would have been dangerous, don’t you think?”

He looked at the aggressive, unreasonable man, who somehow seemed familiar.

“I’m calling the police!” The man didn’t bother arguing, taking out his phone to dial.

Just then, someone called his name.

Chen Anquan finally remembered—his name was Bai Wen.

“You’re Bai Wen, right? I remember back in primary school, there was a classmate from Maple Wood Village.”

“And you are?” The man paused, poking his round head out of the window and studying Chen Anquan closely. “Are you Chen Anquan?”

“That’s right!” Chen Anquan replied with a smile.

“Oh my, why didn’t you say so earlier? Old classmates!” The man’s demeanor changed instantly, becoming enthusiastic. He got out of the SUV and patted Chen Anquan’s shoulder. “Anquan, it’s been decades since we last met!”

Chen Anquan laughed, patting Bai Wen’s shoulder in return. “Yes, it’s been a long time. I can’t believe you’re driving a BMW now.”

Hearing his old classmate mention the BMW, Bai Wen couldn’t hide his pride. He sized up the somewhat shabby-looking Chen Anquan. “Anquan, where are you headed?”

“I’m starting a business at home. I’ve got medicinal herbs I’ve recently dug up, planning to sell them in town.”

“Oh my.” Bai Wen grinned, showing his car keys to Chen Anquan and pressing a button.

The rear door of the black X5 slowly opened. Bai Wen warmly walked to Chen Anquan, reaching out to grab the sack. “Come on, I’m heading toward town anyway. Put your things in my car.”

Chen Anquan accepted his old classmate’s help, handing over the sack.

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