Jiang Yun's words were sharp and harsh, her chin held high. She might as well have had "contempt" and "disdain" written all over her face.
Chen Cheng couldn't help but frown. He really couldn't understand why Jiang Yun held such immense hostility toward him.
He and Jiang Yun had indeed had a childhood engagement before, but ever since the Jiang Family broke it off, there were no longer any ties between them. They were practically strangers.
During a chance encounter, why did she have to be so sarcastic and derisive?
'She's a crazy woman!' Chen Cheng thought. 'That's the only way any of this makes sense!'
"What, cat got your tongue?" Seeing Chen Cheng's silence, Jiang Yun's lips curled into a sneer of disdain.
Having lived two lives, Chen Cheng had no time to argue with a crazy woman like her. What would he gain even if he won?
As for the Jiang Family's IOU, it wouldn't be right to bring it out now. After all, the person who borrowed the money was Jiang Rongxuan, not Jiang Yun.
Besides, this crazy woman had two guards with her.
These two men were tall and burly, with Long Sabers at their waists. Their eyes were sharp, and they exuded a subtle, intimidating aura. While not as formidable as Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artists like Jiang Cheng or Liu Yunfeng, they were not to be underestimated.
'Stay calm. Don't provoke this crazy woman and cause unnecessary trouble. The most important thing is to lay low, stay quiet, and practice my martial arts in peace.'
With that thought, Chen Cheng couldn't be bothered with Jiang Yun and turned to leave the restaurant.
Jiang Yun huffed, lost in her own thoughts.
'It seems this Chen Cheng knows his place. He knows his status is too low, that he's not worthy of me, and he's ashamed of himself.
But how did he know Ronghe Restaurant is a new business my family just opened?
Did he come here because he's still holding a grudge about the childhood engagement?
Whatever. He's just a Little Prison Guard. After the way I just humiliated him, he'll surely see reality and give up on any ideas he might have had.'
"Young Miss, you're here?"
The voice of Ronghe Restaurant's Shopkeeper, Lu Ming, interrupted Jiang Yun's thoughts.
"Uncle Lu, was that Chen Cheng really here to eat?"
Because of Chen Cheng's appearance, Jiang Yun had completely forgotten she came to inspect her family's restaurant business.
Lu Ming nodded and said with an obsequious smile:
"Replying to Young Miss, that customer was indeed here for a meal. He was hosting Chief Liu of the City Guard Department and his constables."
"What did you say? Chen Cheng was hosting Chief Liu? You mean Chief Constable Liu Yunfeng?" Jiang Yun asked in astonishment. The only Chief Constable surnamed Liu at the Ruyi Square Sub-Department of the South City District City Guard Department was Liu Yunfeng.
"That's him," Lu Ming replied.
The Jiang Family had started as merchants and now ran several restaurants. They dealt with all sorts of people from every walk of life, so disputes were inevitable.
On top of that, they also had to face both overt and covert extortion from various Jianghu Gangs.
Although the Jiang Family had Hospital Martial Artists for protection, they were still under considerable pressure and had been trying every method to get on good terms with the City Guard Department Officials, seeking official patronage.
This Liu Yunfeng was one of the key people the Jiang Family was trying to win over. They sent him silver coins every month as a show of respect.
Liu Yunfeng accepted all the silver coins without fail, but when Jiang Rongxuan personally invited him to a banquet several times to further their relationship, he was politely refused.
A man that even the Jiang Family couldn't get an audience with was successfully invited by Chen Cheng, a mere Little Prison Guard. This left Jiang Yun utterly shocked.
"Why did he invite Chief Liu?"
Lu Ming gave a wry smile. "That, I do not know."
Jiang Yun forgot all about inspecting the restaurant and turned to leave at once.
She rushed home without stopping. Jiang Rongxuan was in the living room, holding a teacup and leisurely sipping his tea.
In recent years, the Jiang Family's business had been smooth sailing and was growing ever larger. He was in a fine mood, feeling quite relaxed and content.
Seeing Jiang Yun enter, a smile appeared on Jiang Rongxuan's face.
The two sons of the Jiangs' were good-for-nothings, but his daughter was exceptionally talented. After Cultivating the Martial Dao with the Hospital Martial Artist for only three years, she had progressed at a tremendous pace and was on the verge of breaking into the Skin Grinding Realm to become a true Martial Artist.
The Jiang Family's future prosperity rested on this treasured daughter, so Jiang Rongxuan intended to cultivate her talents, having her inspect the family businesses in addition to her Cultivating the Martial Dao.
"Yun'Er, how is business at Ronghe Restaurant?"
But Jiang Yun said, "Father, something bad has happened! Chen Cheng was at Ronghe Restaurant hosting Liu Yunfeng."
"Chen Cheng? Which Chen Cheng?" Jiang Rongxuan didn't immediately recall the name.
Jiang Yun said anxiously, "The Chen Cheng from Locust Tree Lane! The one who had the childhood engagement with me!"
"You mean that son from the Chens'? Why would he be hosting Liu Yunfeng?" Jiang Rongxuan asked, puzzled.
Jiang Yun said, "Father, do you think Chen Cheng hosting Liu Yunfeng means he's trying to use the old engagement to pester me?
Of all the restaurants, he chose Ronghe Restaurant. Could it be that he knew it's our family's business and did it deliberately for us to see?"
Jiang Rongxuan slammed his teacup down on the table and said furiously:
"Hmph! A mere Little Prison Guard dares to dream of latching onto my Jiang Family? It's like a toad lusting after a swan's flesh—utterly delusional!
That bunch of poor neighbors from Locust Tree Lane, not a single one of them is any good! Since your father struck it rich these past few years, many of those paupers have come knocking to borrow money.
Old Chen was sensible enough back then. After getting the door shut in his face a few times, he stopped trying to contact us.
I didn't think his son would be such a spineless bootlicker, thinking he can cross the Jiang Family's threshold just by treating Liu Yunfeng to a meal? No way in hell!"
"Father, Liu Yunfeng is a Chief Constable, after all. Many of our family's businesses are under his jurisdiction. You should make plans early," Jiang Yun advised.
Jiang Rongxuan pondered for a moment, then said, "My dear daughter, don't you worry. Your father has a plan.
Besides, our Jiang Family is connected to the Zhou Family by marriage. I doubt Liu Yunfeng would dare to do anything to us.
And isn't that Young Master Wang still pursuing you?"
Jiang Yun flicked her sleeve and said petulantly, "Father, Wang Cong is just a dandy! All he knows is how to waste his time and money in brothels. Why are you even bringing him up in relation to me?
Besides, I don't want to get married so early. Once I break into the Skin Grinding Realm, I'm going to the Inner City to find a master and continue my training."
"Alright, alright. My precious daughter is devoted to Cultivating the Martial Dao and won't marry anyone. And even if she does, it can only be to a young master from a great family in the Inner City," Jiang Rongxuan said with a chuckle.
Jiang Yun said, "Then what about that little pest, Chen Cheng?"
Jiang Rongxuan's expression darkened, and a vicious look immediately flashed across his face.
"If he knows his place and behaves, then fine. But if he still has ideas about you, then don't blame me for disregarding my past friendship with Old Chen.
If a Little Prison Guard gets robbed and murdered by thugs on the street, not even the City Guard Department would have much to say about it."
"Father, it doesn't have to be like that. If it really comes to it, we can just send someone to teach him a lesson," Jiang Yun advised, not quite as ruthless as her father.
Jiang Rongxuan laughed. "Then Chen Cheng should consider himself lucky that my daughter has a kind heart. If not for that, I'd have someone take care of him right now."
...
"ACHOO!"
Chen Cheng was walking down the street after a trip to the market, his hands full with bags of food and a whole chicken, when he let out a sudden sneeze!
'That's strange. Ever since I reached the Beginner Level in the Iron Armor Skill, my constitution has improved a lot. It shouldn't be this easy for me to catch a cold!
Could it be that some villain is plotting against me?'
He carefully went over the events of the past few days but couldn't find any mistakes he had made.
'Right, there are too many thieves in this world. Walking through the streets so openly like this, I might run into some thugs trying to rob me.
Even though I'm carrying my Constable's Saber, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open but hard to defend against an arrow from the shadows. It's better to be careful!'
With that thought, he turned and went back into the market. When he emerged again, his clothes were bulging. He had tucked away several packets of lime powder and, finally feeling a bit safer, quickened his pace toward home.