A Calamity That Could Cost One's Life

Yet Chen Cheng's argument was sound and well-founded, and he even had a City Guard Office constable backing him up. If she dared say half a word of refusal, should the officials of the City Guard Office turn ruthless, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Widow Tian racked her brains for a long while, yet could not think of any solution. In the end, she could only follow her instincts, drop to her knees, clutch Chen Cheng's thigh, and beg bitterly.

"Ah-Cheng, you know my family's circumstances. I truly can't come up with that much money.

"We've been neighbors for years, seeing each other whenever we look up or lower our heads. Please show mercy. For the sake of the children's dead father, spare us mother and children.

"As long as you show mercy, I'll do anything you ask."

Widow Tian was in her thirties. She usually liked to powder and paint her face, and the millstones at her chest were rather magnificent, so she did possess a few charms. Deliberately or not, she rubbed those millstones against Chen Cheng's leg...

Knowing she had many lovers and was no virtuous woman, Chen Cheng felt only disgust. He flexed his leg and flung her away.

"Fine! I'm a kind-hearted man. For the sake of our being neighbors, just repay one tael of silver."

Seeing Widow Tian still trying to pester him, he added coldly, "One tael of silver—not a single cent less! If you keep babbling, don't blame me for changing my mind!"

"I... I'll pay." Widow Tian's beauty trap had failed. Inwardly, she cursed Chen Cheng for being hard as iron and stone, but with others as the knife and herself as the fish on the chopping block, she had no choice but to submit.

She took out her money pouch and counted for a long time. In the end, she could only scrape together three hundred copper coins. Added to the previous five hundred, she was still short two hundred.

"Ah-Cheng, I only have eight hundred copper coins."

Chen Cheng still did not take the money. His gaze swept toward Ma Liu. "Ma Liu, what do you say?"

How could Ma Liu not understand Chen Cheng's meaning? With a bitter face, he fumbled in his clothes with his uninjured left hand for a long while before pulling out two hundred copper coins.

Only then did Chen Cheng tear up the promissory note and take the money from them.

"Ah-Cheng, now that the matter is settled, we'll meet again someday."

Liu Yunfeng smiled quite amiably. Today, he had truly seen what Ruthless A-Cheng was made of.

So young, yet his methods were already so ruthless and decisive. This lad would certainly not remain an ordinary man in the future. Helping him this time had forged a good connection—it was worth it!

"Chief Liu, there's no rush!"

Chen Cheng cupped his hands and smiled. "It's getting late. Chief Liu and the other brothers probably haven't eaten yet. How about I treat you all to a few drinks somewhere?"

This time, not only Liu Yunfeng, but even the other three runners looked at Chen Cheng in a new light, secretly admiring him.

When others respected you by one foot, you had to return it by ten. If Chen Cheng only knew how to be ruthless and did not understand the ways of the world, then even if he achieved something in the future, it would be limited.

Ruthless A-Cheng knew the ropes!

Before Liu Yunfeng could speak, the scar-faced runner stepped forward, slung an arm around Chen Cheng's shoulders, and said warmly, "Brother Chen, there's a newly opened restaurant on the next street that's pretty good. Let's have a proper few drinks!"

"May I ask how I should address you, brother?"

"Liao San. I'm a few years older than you, so just call me Third Brother."

As they watched Chen Cheng and the men from the City Guard Office stroll away while chatting, all the residents of Locust Tree Alley were secretly alarmed.

They had been neighbors for so long, yet none of them had known Chen Cheng was actually a ruthless man!

Especially those who had previously owed the Chen Family money and refused to repay it—they were not only frightened, but also seized by lingering dread.

If Chen Cheng had not gone to collect his debt from Widow Tian, but had come after them instead, they would be the ones suffering now.

As for Widow Tian and the other two, they had long since slipped back home and tightly shut their courtyard gate.

Harmony Restaurant on the next street.

This was a newly opened restaurant, and business was fairly good.

The group found a private room and sat down. Chen Cheng was not stingy, ordering a plate of braised pork hock, a roast goose, a braised chicken, a plate of red-braised lamb spine, several vegetable dishes, and two bottles of spirits.

Such a generous gesture earned him considerable goodwill from Liu Yunfeng. As for Liao San and the other two runners, they praised Chen Cheng to the skies.

After all, the runners' pay was not much higher than that of prison guards, and the three of them rarely had the chance to eat at a restaurant.

After a few cups of wine, Chen Cheng had become familiar with them.

"By the way, Chief Liu, yesterday Chief Jiang escorted a prisoner into the jail. I heard he was a notorious bandit who had committed a family-extermination case. After Chief Jiang personally interrogated him, he took men to make arrests. I wonder how things turned out?"

Taking advantage of the wine, Chen Cheng casually asked. After all, that prisoner had promised one hundred and fifty taels of silver. It would be good if he could learn some useful information.

"A notorious bandit? You mean the matter of the Zhou Family in Ruyi Ward?" Liu Yunfeng's expression suddenly turned grave. "Ah-Cheng, how much do you know about this?"

Not only did Liu Yunfeng turn serious, Liao San and the other two runners also wore solemn expressions.

Chen Cheng's heart gave a thump. He had merely asked casually—had he somehow stirred up a hornet's nest?

"Chief Liu, what could a lowly prison guard like me know? I only saw Chief Jiang personally interrogate the prisoner, so I casually asked Uncle Li Tao about it.

"After Chief Jiang interrogated that prisoner yesterday, he wanted him kept alive, so I helped treat his wounds."

"So that was it." Liu Yunfeng's expression eased, then he lowered his voice. "Ah-Cheng, this matter is of great importance. It involves important people from great families in the inner city.

"In the eyes of those great families in the inner city, let alone you, even I could be... at any moment..."

Liu Yunfeng raised a hand and made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Take my advice. Don't ask about it, and don't try to contact that prisoner."

"I understand. Thank you for the warning, Chief Liu."

Chen Cheng cupped his hands and thanked him solemnly.

Though he still tried hard to remain composed, a monstrous storm had already risen within his heart.

Liu Yunfeng was a Skin-Tempering Realm martial artist and a Subordinate Ninth Rank constable. In the eyes of ordinary people, he was an imposing authority, yet even he was so fearful. The danger involved was plain to see.

This world truly is dangerous. I nearly got myself killed because curiosity killed the cat, dying halfway down the road!

My strength is still far too weak. I have to be more cautious!

Muttering inwardly, Chen Cheng naturally did not dare ask any further questions.

Liu Yunfeng, Liao San, and the others also deliberately avoided the subject.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Liu Yunfeng and the others still had afternoon duty, so they hurriedly took their leave.

Chen Cheng went to the counter to settle the bill. The meal had cost a total of three hundred and eighty copper coins—more than half a month's food money for the old Chen Family. His teeth ached with the pain of it.

"But this money wasn't wasted. Liu Yunfeng's warning may well have spared me a life-threatening calamity. And becoming friendly with Liu Yunfeng and the others will at least make my family safer in Locust Tree Alley!"

Chen Cheng consoled himself thus. Lost in thought as he walked toward the restaurant entrance, he nearly collided with a young girl walking in.

Fortunately, Chen Cheng reacted quickly and sidestepped out of the way.

The girl was about sixteen or seventeen, tall and slender, with a lovely face. She wore a light-blue fitted martial outfit beneath a sable cloak, and a pair of short swords hung at her waist. Her face was filled with anger.

"You... you're Chen Cheng? What are you doing here?"

Chen Cheng was slightly stunned. He seemed not to know such a girl. After searching his memories for a long while, he finally recalled that she was none other than Jiang Yun, the girl to whom he had been betrothed since childhood.

Chen Cheng had only met Jiang Yun once, three years ago, before awakening the memories of his past life, so he had not recognized her at first.

Jiang Yun spoke with clear hostility, carrying herself with an overbearing air. Chen Cheng did not indulge her either, replying irritably, "This is a restaurant. Naturally, I'm here to eat."

"Eat? You? A mere prison guard?

"Do you know how much a meal at Harmony Restaurant costs?"

As though she had heard the greatest joke in the world, Jiang Yun sneered.