Xu Li and Jiang Bing looked at Jiang Tao with eyes full of astonishment.
Was their husband and second brother *this* badass?
In a 1v3 situation, he actually managed to win in a crushing manner!
To those who knew what was happening, it was clear this was a fight sparked by a conflict.
But to outsiders, it might've looked like a scene straight out of a professional action movie, with trained stuntmen throwing punches!
This was… just too cool!
Jiang Tao himself felt that his moves just now were pretty darn slick.
"System-level freestyle fighting…"
"This thing is actually pretty useful in a fight!"
The series of smooth, flowing moves Jiang Tao had just executed didn't even require conscious thought.
It was as if his muscles were acting on conditioned reflex.
On top of that, he had pre-borrowed 10 points of Constitution, bringing his total to 73 points.
His physical condition far surpassed the two guys who looked strong on the outside but only had Constitution scores in the 30s—weaklings in comparison.
With absolute dominance in technique and physicality, the result was the instant knockout they'd just witnessed.
"Hiss…"
"Ouch…"
After Wang Tianheng and his two buddies got up from the ground, their gazes toward Jiang Tao were tinged with fear.
They'd run into a tough nut this time!
At the end of the day, Wang Tianheng and his crew were the type to bully the weak and fear the strong.
They'd been so aggressive and cocky at first because they had the numbers and thought they held the absolute advantage.
But now, after a real clash, they suddenly realized the advantage wasn't theirs.
Naturally, Wang Tianheng and his crew started to chicken out.
"This guy is definitely not an ordinary person. He's probably trained in the military—and not just any soldier, either."
Wang Tianheng stared at Jiang Tao with uncertainty, his mind racing through possibilities.
It wasn't surprising that he was overthinking it— what just happened was a bit too unbelievable!
This was reality, not some action or martial arts flick!
One guy had taken down three of them in less than ten seconds.
Could this kid be some kind of retired elite soldier??
Jiang Tao's extraordinary combat ability left Wang Tianheng wary.
Driving a Mercedes GLS worth over a million showed he had money, *and* he could fight…
After being thrown over Jiang Tao's shoulder, Wang Tianheng's head wasn't dazed—in fact, it had cleared up quite a bit.
"This guy is definitely not ordinary!"
With that thought in mind, Wang Tianheng's arrogant demeanor vanished instantly.
He began to reassess the situation.
Would escalating this matter benefit him in any way? The answer was no.
Plus, he was the one who'd thrown the first punch, so even if this went to court, he wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
Wang Tianheng's two buddies were also watching his cues.
Seeing him suddenly go quiet and back off, they weren't eager to play cannon fodder and get beaten up again either.
They weren't his match—not even close!
After that brief clash, the two had a rough sense of Jiang Tao's overwhelming combat strength.
Even if they tried again, they had zero chance of winning. They'd just get beaten up again.
The tense, fist-flying brawl from moments ago suddenly fell silent.
"Make way, make way."
As the two sides stood in a wordless standoff, a police car pulled up to the side of the road. Two uniformed officers stepped out.
Say what you will, but the capital city was different—its police force was far more responsive than in small counties.
From the car accident to the conflict, no more than 10 minutes had passed, and even without anyone calling the police, officers had already arrived.
The two cops took one look at the scene and immediately knew what was going on.
They'd handled situations like this countless times—it was nothing new to them.
After a car accident, emotions run high, and it's not uncommon for people to start throwing punches over a disagreement.
After questioning both parties and learning the cause and details of the conflict, the officers looked at Jiang Tao with some surprise.
Wang Tianheng and his two friends were covered in dirt, one of them even sporting a nosebleed that wouldn't stop.
Yet Jiang Tao, a guy with two women, was completely unscathed, his clothes without a speck of dust or a single wrinkle.
That kind of combat ability was a bit exaggerated!
Even a well-trained soldier might not be able to take down three muscular guys without a scratch.
Since both sides had thrown punches, it was deemed a mutual brawl. The punishment was a slap on the wrist for both—verbal criticism and a warning.
Pursuing it further would mean going through the legal system, which would only cause trouble for both sides with no real gain.
In the end, Jiang Tao and Wang Tianheng's trio accepted the officers' verbal mediation, and the matter was settled.
The traffic police and insurance adjusters arrived soon after.
After determining fault, a tow truck took both cars away for damage assessment and repairs.
The rest was up to the insurance companies.
Jiang Tao's car had full coverage, with third-party liability up to 5 million yuan.
Even if the other party's E300 was totaled, it would be more than covered.
Once the accident was resolved, Wang Tianheng and his two friends took a cab and left.
Jiang Tao, Xu Li, and Jiang Bing got into the BAIC EU5 parked nearby, turned around, and drove toward their neighborhood.
[Congratulations on completing the special mission [Protective Brother]!]
[Congratulations on receiving 10 Constitution points (pre-borrowed), 10 Charm points, 1 million yuan in cash, and system-level freestyle fighting! (pre-borrowed)]
As Jiang Tao started the car, a line of azure text appeared on the windshield of the BAIC EU5.
At the same time, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
That must be the cash reward hitting his account!
The pre-borrowed Constitution points and system-level freestyle fighting had already been received.
As for the 10 Charm points, Jiang Tao couldn't feel any difference.
Overall, the [Protective Brother] mission wasn't too difficult, but the rewards were pretty generous.
A misfortune turned into a blessing.
This time, he'd benefited from his little sister's trouble, hadn't he?
"Honey! You were so cool when you took down those three jerks! When did you secretly learn martial arts?"
Xu Li's excited voice from the passenger seat interrupted Jiang Tao's thoughts.
At that moment, her eyes were filled with admiration, like she was his little fangirl.
For some reason, she suddenly felt her husband seemed even more handsome, more charming!
"Yeah, Second Bro! You're too awesome—bam, bam, bam, just a few moves, and you knocked them flat!"
In the back seat, Jiang Bing was animatedly mimicking Jiang Tao's fighting moves, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"There's a lot you two don't know."
"During my years in the capital, I trained with my master in my spare time. Didn't expect it to come in handy today."
Jiang Tao shamelessly used Old Sun as a scapegoat again.
With Old Sun gone, he could say whatever he wanted—no one could verify it.
"Master Sun… Master Sun knows martial arts? I never would've guessed."
Xu Li was a bit surprised by Jiang Tao's explanation but didn't doubt its truth.
The proof was in the pudding!
Jiang Tao's 1v3 heroics were etched in her mind.
Her husband was just too cool, too awesome!
Xu Li's gaze toward Jiang Tao was soft and full of love—she was completely smitten.
"So, is it you who's stronger, Second Bro, or Master Sun?"
Jiang Bing, also full of admiration, looked at her brother, suddenly feeling he seemed even more handsome than before.
Finding a man as dashing and devoted as her brother in this lifetime would probably be tough!
Jiang Tao laughed, "I've only been training for four or five years, just scratching the surface."
"My master started practicing martial arts at three and trained for over sixty years. His skills are otherworldly."
"Taking on ten guys might be a stretch, but handling six or seven of those showy muscleheads from earlier? No problem."
"Wow! Master Sun is *that* amazing?"
"There really are masters in this world! Today was an eye-opener!"
Xu Li and Jiang Bing were completely taken in by Jiang Tao's explanation, not suspecting he was spinning a wild tale.
After all, Jiang Tao's effortless takedown of Wang Tianheng and his crew was undeniable.
With the combat ability he displayed, even if you added three more guys, they probably wouldn't stand a chance.
*Creak~*
The BAIC EU5 soon pulled up to their building, and the three got out, heading toward the entrance.
They took the elevator upstairs, arriving home a little past 8 p.m.
Jiang Tao only told his parents they'd been delayed dealing with the accident.
He didn't mention a word about the fight with Wang Tianheng's crew.
Telling them would only make them worry, and there was no need for that.
Seeing the three return safely, Jiang's parents finally relaxed.
Jiang Bing, of course, got a scolding from their mom, who gave her a lecture on traffic safety.
After the little episode, the evening's barbecue finally got underway.
*Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~*
Beef rolls and shrimp covered the grill pan, the aroma of meat filling the room.
The beef rolls Xu Li had bought online looked pretty decent quality.
Once the beef rolls were grilled to a slightly golden crisp, Xu Li first served a piece to Jiang Xue, dipping it in the homemade barbecue sauce Jiang Tao had brought back.
The sauce had a touch of chili but wasn't too spicy, so Jiang Xue could handle it.
"Wow! So yummy! Daddy's barbecue sauce is amazing!"
Jiang Xue clapped her hands excitedly after a bite, giving Jiang Tao a big thumbs-up with a grin.
"Is it really that good? Let me try!"
Jiang Bing, quick as a flash, grabbed another grilled beef roll, dipped it in her sauce bowl, and stuffed the whole thing in her mouth.
"Mmm, mmm, mmm! Delicious, so delicious! Second Sis-in-Law, Mom, Nan-jie, you guys have to try this! It's too good!"
Faced with such tasty food, Jiang Bing didn't care about appearances.
She chewed the beef roll while giving Jiang Tao a thumbs-up and showering him with praise.
Their mom gave Jiang Bing a playful glare and said, "You little brat, with guests here, you don't even think to let them go first. You're eating faster than anyone!"
Jiang Bing protested, "Is Nan-jie a guest? She's family! Why be so formal~"
"Haha, Auntie, Xiao Bing's right. Don't treat me like a guest—we're family."
Du Ennan laughed and nodded. When she came to Jiang Tao's house for a meal, she never treated herself as an outsider.
"Nan-nan, try some."
Xu Li smiled and placed a piece of slightly charred beef roll on Du Ennan's plate.
"Mm, I'll give it a try!"
Du Ennan said, picking up the beef, dipping it in the sauce, and taking a small bite.
"The flavor's great! It's even more fragrant than Tian Wei's Black Bull barbecue sauce, with richer layers."
Du Ennan savored the bite and gave high praise to the delicious sauce.
"Not bad, not bad, the flavor's really good."
"Mommy, I want more, more! Dip it in lots of sauce—this sauce is so good!"
"Son, you really whipped this up? This barbecue sauce is fantastic!"
Everyone who tried Jiang Tao's homemade sauce gave it rave reviews—no one could find a single flaw.
"Jiang Tao, you're too awesome. You really made this in one afternoon?"
Du Ennan looked at Jiang Tao in disbelief, finding the whole thing a bit incredible.
Buying someone else's recipe and perfecting it in just a few hours?
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Du Ennan wouldn't have believed such an outrageous story.
But the proof was right in front of her—she had to believe it.
The two sauces looked similar on the surface, almost indistinguishable at a glance.
But the subtle differences were significant.
Jiang Tao's homemade sauce was more aromatic than Black Bull's, with a better balance of salty, sweet, and savory flavors, and a richer texture.
In a blind taste test, the vast majority would pick Jiang Tao's sauce!
"When I was studying the recipe, I had a sudden inspiration and made some small tweaks. Didn't expect it to actually work."
"Luck played a big part in this success."
Jiang Tao's explanation didn't raise any suspicions.
Du Ennan smiled, "Sometimes, luck is part of strength—sometimes even the deciding factor!"
"Mm, mm! Nan-nan's right! Good luck is a kind of strength!"
As Xu Li spoke, her gaze fell on the "lucky stone" hanging at her chest.
Could this stroke of luck be related to it?
Ever since they got the two lucky stones, everything at home had been going smoothly, with good things happening one after another.
After finishing her sauce-covered beef roll, Du Ennan looked at Jiang Tao and asked,
"Jiang Tao, when you bought this sauce recipe from Tian Wei, are you planning to open a barbecue restaurant or make condiments?"
Jiang's parents' eyes lit up at Du Ennan's words, looking at their son with anticipation.
Opening a barbecue restaurant had been their unfulfilled dream for decades.
Compared to pickling and selling eight-treasure pickles every day, they much preferred running a barbecue restaurant.
Jiang Tao smiled, "I think we can learn from Haidilao—run a barbecue restaurant and sell the sauce at the same time. The two can complement each other."
"That's a great idea. Your improved sauce tastes amazing—it's sure to carve out a big market in the future."
"If there's anything I can help with, just let me know."
Du Ennan smiled at Jiang Tao, sincerely offering her support.
She genuinely considered Jiang Tao and Xu Li friends and was willing to lend a hand as they started their venture.
"Don't worry, if we need your help, I won't hold back."
Jiang Tao didn't stand on ceremony with Du Ennan, his close family friend, and accepted her offer with a smile.
The group ate and chatted, enjoying the food while sharing the joys of their lives in a warm, harmonious atmosphere.
The barbecue went on from just past 9 p.m. until 10 p.m.
*Ding-a-ling—*
Just as Du Ennan put down her chopsticks and was chatting with Xu Li, her phone rang in her bag.
She pulled it out and saw the caller ID: "Driver Old Wu."
"Hello, Master Wu."
"Okay, wait a moment, we'll be right down."
"Mm, bye."
After a brief call with the driver, Du Ennan hung up and looked at Jiang Tao.
She hadn't forgotten that Jiang Tao had said that afternoon he'd help with her insomnia.
Since her husband's tragic passing, Du Ennan hadn't had a single good night's sleep, plagued by insomnia every day.
Though she didn't hold much hope for Jiang Tao's help, she still wanted to give it a try.
What if it worked, even just a little?
"Hey, Ennan, why're you staring at me like that? My wife's gonna get jealous."
Jiang Tao, catching Du Ennan's gaze, played dumb and cracked a little joke.
"Hahaha, I'm not jealous of Nan-nan. Looking won't cost me anything—just don't start touching."
Xu Li laughed, wrapping her arms around Jiang Tao's, acting magnanimous.
"You two, I swear!"
Du Ennan rolled her eyes at the couple, exasperated.
One was narcissistic, the other inexplicably obsessed with her man—truly a perfect match.
"Alright, no more teasing. Let's go. I'll make sure you sleep well tonight."
Jiang Tao stood up from the sofa, ready to head downstairs with Du Ennan.
"Dad, Mom, Xiao Bing, you guys take Xiao Xue to bed. I'm going with my husband to Nan-nan's place. We'll be back later."
"Drive safely, be careful."
"Mm, don't worry, we'll be fine. You guys rest."
"Uncle Jiang, Aunt Tian, goodbye. Thanks for the hospitality tonight—sorry for the trouble."
"No trouble at all. Come back anytime you're hungry, and Uncle and Aunt will cook for you."
"Mm, mm! Uncle, Aunt, see you!"
After saying goodbye to Jiang's parents, Du Ennan left with Jiang Tao and Xu Li, taking the elevator downstairs.
Downstairs, a Mercedes Maybach with its lights on sat like a beast quietly waiting for its prey in the dark.
At the front right of the car, a balding middle-aged man in a black suit and white shirt stood quietly.
"Good evening, Miss. Good evening, Mr. Jiang, Ms. Xu."
Driver Old Wu greeted the three respectfully as they approached, stepping back to open the rear door.
"Thanks, Master Wu."
Du Ennan smiled and greeted Old Wu before she and Xu Li bent down to sit in the back.
Jiang Tao opened the front passenger door and got in himself.
After everyone was settled, Old Wu started the car and drove toward Du Ennan's villa.
The trip took about an hour.
The Maybach pulled into a parking space outside a three-story, luxuriously decorated standalone villa in the Maoyuan Jingxi Villa District.
Jiang Tao and Xu Li followed Du Ennan into the villa's courtyard.
Crossing the yard, the three entered the villa.
As soon as they stepped inside, Xu Li said, "Nan-nan, go freshen up. Don't worry about us—we'll wait here."
"Alright, make yourselves at home. I'm going to wash up."
Du Ennan, not treating Jiang Tao and Xu Li as outsiders, gave a quick instruction and headed upstairs to freshen up.
About half an hour later, Du Ennan called Jiang Tao to let him know she was back in her bedroom.
"Go ahead, honey. I'll wait here."
Though Xu Li felt a tiny pang of discomfort at the thought of Jiang Tao being alone with Du Ennan in her room, she chose to trust him and let him go alone.
When Jiang Tao activated [Sleep Mode] for someone, there couldn't be any other observers present, so he couldn't bring Xu Li along.
"It'll be quick. Wait for me—ten minutes."
Jiang Tao smiled, ruffled Xu Li's hair, and headed toward the villa's staircase, climbing to the second floor.
At the door to Du Ennan's room, Jiang Tao knocked.
"Come in, Jiang Tao."
Hearing Du Ennan's voice from inside, Jiang Tao pushed the door open and closed it behind him.
The main light in the room was off, with only a small ketiiy-shaped nightlight on the dresser casting an orange glow.
Du Ennan was sitting on the bed, a light pink quilt covering her legs.
The moment she saw Jiang Tao enter, her heart suddenly raced a little.
Though she had nothing but pure intentions, being alone with her best friend's husband at night felt a tad ambiguous.
"Ahem, Jiang Tao, you're here."
Du Ennan cleared her throat, breaking the silence.
Jiang Tao grinned, "Relax, I'm not gonna eat you."
"Tch, you're the one who should worry about Lily eating you."
Du Ennan's tension eased a bit at his teasing.
"Alright, listen to me now. Lie down on the pillow, cover yourself with the quilt, and close your eyes."
Jiang Tao got straight to the point.
"Oh, okay."
Following his instructions, Du Ennan slowly lay on her side on the pillow, pulled the quilt up to her neck, and gently closed her eyes.
"Now try to clear your mind. Don't think about anything."
"Then, starting from your neck, slowly relax."
"Relax your shoulders, your arms, then your fingers."
"Don't control your breathing—let your body breathe naturally."
"Yes, like that. Now relax your stomach, your thighs, calves, toes…"
[Would you like to spend 66 yuan to activate [Sleep Mode] for Du Ennan?]
"Yes!"
While guiding Du Ennan through the relaxation process, Jiang Tao quietly spent 66 yuan to activate [Sleep Mode] for her.
Before he even finished his spiel, Du Ennan's breathing had become steady and slow.
The slight tension on her face softened, and it was clear she was already asleep.
"Sleep well tonight."
Jiang Tao observed her for about a minute to confirm she was asleep, then turned toward the door.
He gently opened it, stepped out, and closed it softly before heading downstairs to meet Xu Li.
"Done already?"
Xu Li was slightly surprised to see Jiang Tao come down.
From the time he went upstairs to when he returned, only 6 minutes and 37 seconds had passed!