The surrounding neighbors heard the commotion and came out to watch, feeling sorry for the situation.
"Before Chen Qilang passed away, he ran the pharmacy so prosperously. Who would have thought that just a few years after his death, it would fall into such decline?"
"He can only blame himself for having such wishful thoughts, wanting his son to become a martial artist. If he hadn't sent his youngest son to learn martial arts, squandering the savings, this wouldn't have happened."
"See what happens when you send your son to learn martial arts."
"..."
Chen Rui saw the neighbors pointing and whispering, feeling extremely anguished and indignant, his eyes red as he stared at the group blocking the door, shouting angrily, "We agreed on three percent interest for a two hundred tael loan, totaling two hundred sixty taels with principal and interest for one month. Where did five hundred taels come from?"
The leader sneered, "Three percent interest? You think you're begging for alms? Look closely, the promissory note clearly states ten percent interest. Also, last month was a leap month, you were late by a day, so that's half a month's interest. It's a total of five hundred taels, not a penny less."
"What?"
Chen Rui was shocked and angry, "We agreed on three percent interest, the promissory note said... You... this promissory note is fake..."
"Fake? Open your dog eyes and see, is this your signature? The seal?"
...
At the entrance to the alley.
The coachman said to Chen Ming, "I've seen this person, he's one of Scarface's minions at Wanli Gambling House. Specializes in lending at high interest rates and often falsifying promissory notes. Once you borrow money from them, they won't let you go easily, they'll wring you dry, down to the bone."
"Sir, do you need me to go back and find the young master to step in?"
Chen Ming politely refused, "No need to trouble Brother Deng. I will handle this myself. Just drop me here."
He alighted from the carriage and walked inside.
At this moment, Chen Rui was looking at the writing on the promissory note with wide eyes, in disbelief, trembling all over.
It truly was his handwriting.
But before it clearly stated three percent interest, how did it become ten percent?
At this moment, Scarface stepped forward and grabbed him by the collar, shouting, "Look closely, pay up immediately."
"I..."
Chen Rui was overwhelmed with shame, and with his collar strangling his neck, he couldn't speak.
"Let go."
Suddenly, a loud shout exploded by Scarface's ear, startling him, as he heard a fierce wind approaching from behind. Without thinking, he swung his arm back.
He specializes in debt collection, not a common hand, and his combat experience is extremely rich.
The next second, a huge force surged in, shocking him greatly. He immediately let go, rolled on the ground, and escaped the lethal move in a sorry state.
He got up from the ground and saw a young man in his early twenties, fuming with rage, "Who are you? How dare you meddle in Wanli Gambling House's affairs?"
Chen Ming stood protectively in front of his brother, speaking coldly, "I'm Chen Ming, and he's my brother. Go back and tell your boss not to use such despicable methods in front of me."
"You are Chen Ming?"
Scarface's expression was somewhat uncertain.
He knew Chen Rui had a younger brother who practiced martial arts for a few years but was told he had poor talent with mediocre skills.
Who said this person had mediocre skills?
He cursed the person who gave him the information in his heart.
Just from that move, this person's skill was certainly not below his.
His gaze gradually turned fierce, "Hmph, white and black written clearly. You brothers either pay up or use this house as collateral with us."
With this said, Chen Rui's face changed drastically.
Chen Ming's expression also darkened, "So, there's no peaceful resolution today."
Scarface waved his hand, and his lackeys brandished wooden sticks and iron rulers, showing their malicious intentions as they surrounded them.
"Second brother!"
Chen Rui pulled at his brother, fearing he'd suffer losses.
A wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him.
Unexpectedly, he couldn't hold him back, as Chen Ming already charged forward, diving into the crowd as if it were empty. Seven or eight robust men wielding weapons were knocked down in no time.
Chen Rui watched with his mouth agape.
Wasn't it said that his brother's martial arts were poorly trained? How could he be this formidable?
...
Oh no!
Seeing Chen Ming easily flatten his men, Scarface realized he severely underestimated this person's strength, and cold sweat broke out.
"Uh… Let's talk… Ouch—"
Just two moves later, he got kicked in the thigh, the intense pain causing him to scream, unable to get up from the ground.
In the blink of an eye, all those who came looking for trouble were sprawled on the ground.
The crowd watching from the sidelines was dumbfounded.
Wasn't Chen Family's second son useless?
Wasn't it said his talent was so poor he was expelled by his master?
And yet, he's this strong?
...
"Everyone, get out."
With one fierce shout from Chen Ming, the beaten lackeys picked up Scarface and fled in embarrassment.
Then he cupped his hands towards the surrounding neighbors, saying, "Sorry for the trouble, everyone. Once this is resolved, I will personally apologize at your doorsteps."
Without waiting for them to respond, he pulled his brother back inside and shut the door.
Chen Rui looked at his younger brother with a complex expression, "Thanks to you today. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to do."
For the first time, he felt grateful that his brother had learned martial skills.
Chen Ming said, "How did you get involved with that type of person?"
"I urgently needed money at the time, had no choice, was introduced by someone, borrowed two hundred taels as an emergency measure, who knew…"
"Who introduced them?"
"A business friend."
"From now on, don't associate with that person anymore."
"Yes, I know."
Chen Rui was still worried, "Will they come back?"
Chen Ming shook his head, "It's just a few hundred taels, not worth it."
For such an amount, against someone like him who is not weak in martial arts, the owner of Wanli Gambling House shouldn't be so foolish.
These loan sharks surely know how to do the math.
As the two brothers talked, they walked to the backyard.
The maid with clothes patched up held a stick, guarding the courtyard gate, looking nervous. Seeing the eldest and second young master, she breathed a sigh of relief, quickly hiding the stick behind her, and stepped forward to greet.
The wife, Mrs. Wei, heard the commotion, peeked out from the house, saw it was her husband and younger brother-in-law, and rushed over, asking anxiously, "Where did those ruffians go?"
His nephew, Chen Lide, closely followed behind, holding a pair of scissors, looking like he was ready to fight at any moment.
Chen Rui's attention was all on his wife, hurriedly reassuring, "Those ruffians were chased away by second brother."
"Really?"
Mrs. Wei was half-believing.
"Absolutely true, I saw it with my own eyes."
While talking, they heard someone knocking at the door outside.
Mrs. Wei jumped in fright, quickly hiding behind her husband, pale-faced.
An elderly voice called out, "Is Elder Brother Chen home?"
The maid trembled and said, "Seems it's… Neighbor Granny Ai."
Mrs. Wei recognized the voice too, "It's really Granny Ai, quickly open the door."
As the door opened, it was indeed Granny Ai, holding freshly baked pastries, smilingly pulling Mrs. Wei inside to chat.
Chen Ming went straight back to his room and opened the panel.
[Level: 7]
[Current Points: 3002]
[Cultivation Technique: Iron Horse Stance (Fourth Level 3/1000+)]
[Martial Skill: Three Talents Fist (Proficient 27/500+), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Beginner 55/100+)]
Finally, enough points were accumulated.
Earlier, the group of troublemakers gave him a wave of experience points.
"Add!"
He added a thousand points to Iron Horse Stance, advancing this Pile Skill to the fifth level.
[Level: 9]
[Current Points: 2002]
[Cultivation Technique: Iron Horse Stance (Fifth Level 3/2000+)]
[Martial Skill: Three Talents Fist (Proficient 27/500+), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Beginner 55/100+)]
Chen Ming's body crackled, and a powerful force surged out.