Aftermath

Chen Yuan looked down at Wang Wei, who was trembling from pain and fear. "Jinsha Trading Company? Fine. I'm going easy on you today to give you a chance."

He pressed down slightly with his foot, and Wang Wei immediately let out a miserable shriek.

"Remember this: Chen Dajiang is my Second Uncle. This shop is under my protection."

"Go back and tell your boss: compensate for all losses to this store, and pay double the medical fees for the injured workers."

"If I ever find out that anyone from Jinsha Trading Company dares to set foot in this shop again, or harass my Second Uncle... I won't mind paying a personal visit to your head office to have a word with your boss."

"Do you understand?"

The last sentence rang out like a thunderclap in Wang Wei's ears.

"Yes... understood. I'll deliver the message, I'll do as you say. Thank you, good sir, for sparing my life!" Wang Wei promised, tears and snot streaming down his face.

"Take your men and get lost."

Chen Yuan released his foot.

The workers scrambled away as if pardoned, dragging and carrying their injured, fleeing the fish shop without even daring to pick up their weapons.

A brief, dead silence fell over the shop.

Then, a huge, relieved exhale and uncontrollable cheers erupted from the Fengyuan Trading Company workers!

They stared at Chen Yuan, their eyes filled with shock and admiration.

"Brother Yuan! That was incredible!"

"Heavens! Breaking ironwood with bare hands—how much strength does that take?"

"Great, let's see if they still dare to act tough."

Chen Dajiang, tears streaming down his aged face, rushed over and grabbed Chen Yuan's arm tightly, his lips trembling. It took him a long moment to speak: "Brother Yuan... you... today you really... really..."

He was too emotional to form coherent words, just patting Chen Yuan's arm forcefully, saying everything without speaking.

Chen Yuan let the chill fade from his demeanor, a gentle smile appearing on his face. He steadied his overwrought Second Uncle. "Second Uncle, it's fine. It's all settled. They shouldn't dare come back."

He glanced at the trashed shop and the injured workers. "First, tend to the wounded and clean up."

Soon, the shop was swiftly tidied, the injured workers were taken care of, and the precious crates of sea bass were carefully loaded onto a cart and sent to Liu Manor.

By the time everything was handled, dusk had fallen, and the cold wind howled harder outside.

Chen Dajiang had somewhat recovered, still muttering, "Brother Yuan, the fish trade in town isn't easy. You snatch from me today, I snatch from you tomorrow—it's the norm."

"If our best hands hadn't gone out to sea with the boss today, Wang Wei and his lackeys wouldn't have had the chance to act tough."

Knowing his Second Uncle was just putting on a brave front, Chen Yuan nodded seriously with a smile.

As they talked, the uncle and nephew picked up their full bags and prepared to push aside the cotton curtain to leave.

Suddenly, the sound of urgent carriage wheels came from outside again—and from the noise, it wasn't just one.

The crowd, which had just relaxed, tensed up again. Could Jinsha Trading Company be sending more men?

The windproof cotton curtain was yanked open. This time, however, it wasn't a gang of vicious thugs who entered, but a portly middle-aged man in an expensive brocade cotton robe, draped in a mink cloak.

His face was panicked, his forehead covered in sweat. Without even wiping it off, he swept his frantic gaze across the room and instantly locked onto Chen Yuan, who stood out in his fitted martial attire. The man's face turned deathly pale, drained of all color.

Behind him followed two men who looked like accountants, equally terrified, along with the same group of Jinsha Trading Company workers who had fled in disgrace earlier. They now hung their heads like quails, cowering in the back.

The portly man completely ignored Chen Dajiang and the others. He stumbled forward quickly, almost tripping, until he stood before Chen Yuan. Under everyone's stunned gaze, he bowed deeply, his voice trembling with fear.

"I am Jin Mancang, owner of Jinsha Trading Company. My men were blinded by greed and had no eyes to recognize a noble. They offended a martial arts school's honored guest. I failed to govern properly and discipline strictly. I have come specially to apologize to the Young Hero. Please, calm your anger!"

This scene froze the already settled atmosphere in the shop once more.

Chen Dajiang and all the Fengyuan workers were again left dumbfounded. Jin Mancang, the owner of Jinsha Trading Company, was one of the wealthiest merchants in town.

On ordinary days, a small shopkeeper like them would struggle to even get a meeting with him. And now he was bowing and scraping to apologize to Chen Yuan?

Chen Yuan looked at the man before him, who exuded deference. His expression remained calm, but his mind was clear as a mirror.

This is how someone who truly understands a martial artist's status and power should react. A young Blackwater Martial Arts School disciple with such outstanding strength—the potential and influence he represents far exceeds what a small-town merchant can afford to provoke.

Not to mention, any of the mid-sized fishing companies that rely on Blackwater Martial Arts School are no worse off than Jinsha Trading Company.

"Master Jin, no need for this. Please rise."

Chen Yuan spoke flatly. "Just a minor scuffle. But it seems your company's rules could use some improvement."

At the word "rules," Jin Mancang's body jolted, cold sweat trickling down his temple. "Yes, yes, yes. I admit my fault. I'll severely punish that blind fool Wang Wei and banish him from the docks."

"For disturbing Accountant Chen and damaging your shop's property, I am willing to pay ten times the compensation. Please, Young Hero, show mercy and forgive me."

As he spoke, he pulled a heavy, bulging silk money pouch from his bosom. Judging by its weight and shape, it likely contained no less than a hundred taels of silver. He respectfully offered it to Chen Yuan.

"A humble gift, unworthy of your acceptance. Consider it compensation to calm Accountant Chen and the workers, cover medical costs, and repair the shop. Please, Young Hero, do me the honor of accepting it. Otherwise, my conscience will not rest, and I won't be able to sleep or eat!"

Chen Yuan didn't take the pouch. Instead, he turned his gaze to Chen Dajiang, who stood frozen and at a loss. "Second Uncle, what do you think we should do?"

Chen Dajiang had never seen such a scene before—a wealthy merchant from town bowing so low before his own nephew, even offering a heavy compensation.

His mind buzzed, and he waved his hands frantically, his words stumbling out: "Master Jin, this... this is too much... I can't accept it, I really can't. Since... since it was a misunderstanding, let's just clear it up. No need for compensation..."

But Jin Mancang insisted on giving it, practically shoving the heavy money pouch into Chen Dajiang's hands: "Accountant Chen, you must take it. If you don't, you'll still be blaming me, and then how could my Jinsha Trading Company ever hold its head up on this dock?"

Chen Yuan saw the moment had come. This Master Jin's attitude was sincere enough, so he finally spoke, sealing the matter: "Since Master Jin is so earnest, let this be the end of it. I hope nothing like this happens again."

Jin Mancang looked as if he'd been granted a pardon: "Thank you, Young Hero, for your magnanimity. I swear it, I swear it. From now on, Jinsha Trading Company will keep to its place and never dare offend again!"

After repeated reassurances, he led his men out of the shop.

Inside, the shop assistants stared at the heavy money pouch in Chen Dajiang's hands, then at Chen Yuan, whose calm expression made it seem like he'd just drunk a glass of water. The awe in their eyes had shifted into something close to worship.

Chen Dajiang clutched the pouch like a hot potato, his hands trembling violently. He looked at his nephew, his voice drifting as if in a dream: "Brother Yuan, this... this... am I dreaming? Jin Mancang, he... he actually..."

Chen Yuan smiled, stepped forward to help his Second Uncle stow the pouch away, and said gently, "Second Uncle, just take it in peace. This is the price he had to pay, and a lesson bought."

"After this, from now on, on this dock and even in the whole town, no one will dare cause trouble at Fengyuan Trading Company. When they see you, they'll have to respectfully call you Shopkeeper Chen."

Chen Dajiang took several deep breaths before barely calming the storm inside him.

He looked at his nephew, who seemed to speak with the power to shape reality, and recalled the dramatic, twisting scenes just moments ago. A flood of emotions surged through him, finally settling into a sigh heavy with feeling.

"Good... good..."

"Brother Yuan, you've really... really made it, and made it big!"

He clapped Chen Yuan's shoulder hard, his eyes reddening again. Gazing at the tall, steady young man beside him—now the true pillar and pride of the family—his heart filled with solid reassurance and pride.

"Brother Yuan, let's go home! Your grandfather and the others are waiting for you."

Chen Dajiang's voice rang out much louder, and his back straightened fully.