But Chen Cheng's argument was perfectly logical, and he had a Chief Constable from the City Guard Department to back him up. If she dared to refuse, the consequences of angering the Officials from the City Guard Department would be unimaginable.
Widow Tian racked her brains for a long time but couldn't come up with any solution. Finally, acting on pure instinct, she dropped to her knees, clung to Chen Cheng's leg, and began to beg pitifully.
"Ah Cheng, you know my situation. I really can't come up with that much money.
We've been neighbors for years, we see each other all the time. I'm begging you, please have mercy. For the sake of my child's dead father, let the two of us off the hook.
If you just let me off, I'll do anything you want."
Widow Tian was in her thirties and always wore heavy makeup. With her rather magnificent bust, she wasn't without a certain charm. She then deliberately began rubbing her chest against Chen Cheng's leg...
Chen Cheng knew she had many paramours and was no decent woman. A wave of disgust washed over him, and he forcefully shook her off his leg.
"Fine! I'm a soft-hearted person. Seeing as we're neighbors, you can just pay back one tael of silver."
Seeing that Widow Tian was about to pester him again, he added coldly, "One tael of silver, not one cent less! If you keep blathering, don't blame me for changing my mind!"
"I… I'll pay." Widow Tian's honey trap had failed. She inwardly cursed Chen Cheng for his heart of stone, but she was the fish on his chopping block. She had no choice but to submit.
She took out her Money Bag and counted for a long time, producing only 300 cents. Added to the previous 500 cents, she was still 200 cents short.
"Ah Cheng, I only have 800 Wen in total."
Chen Cheng still didn't take the money, his gaze sweeping over to Ma Liu. "Ma Liu, what about you?"
How could Ma Liu not understand what Chen Cheng meant? With a miserable look on his face, he fumbled inside his robes with his uninjured left hand for a long while before pulling out 200 cents.
Only then did Chen Cheng tear up the IOU and take the money from them.
"Ah Cheng, since this matter is settled, we'll take our leave."
Liu Yunfeng smiled amicably. Today, he had truly gotten a taste of this Fierce Ah Cheng.
'So young, yet so ruthless and decisive in his methods. This boy will be no ordinary man in the future. Helping him out and forging a good connection was well worth it!'
"Mr. Liu, don't be in such a rush!"
Chen Cheng cupped his fists and smiled. "It's getting late. I'm sure Mr. Liu and you other gentlemen haven't eaten yet. Why don't you let me treat you all? We can find a place for a few drinks."
This time, it wasn't just Liu Yunfeng; the other three constables also looked at Chen Cheng with newfound respect, secretly impressed.
'If someone shows you an inch of respect, you should return it by a foot. If Chen Cheng only knew how to be ruthless and didn't understand the ways of the world, his future accomplishments would be limited, no matter how great.'
'Fierce Ah Cheng really gets it!'
Before Liu Yunfeng could even speak, the scar-faced constable stepped forward, slung an arm around Chen Cheng's shoulder, and said warmly, "Brother Chen, there's a decent new restaurant up ahead on Upper Street. Let's you and I have a few good drinks!"
"And may I ask your name, brother?"
"Liao San. I'm a few years your senior, so just call me Third Brother."
...
Watching Chen Cheng and the men from the City Guard Department walk off into the distance, chatting casually, the residents of Locust Tree Lane were all inwardly stunned.
They had been neighbors for so long, and yet none of them had ever realized Chen Cheng was such a ruthless man!
This was especially true for those who owed the Chens' money and hadn't repaid it. Beyond their shock, they felt a wave of retroactive terror.
If Chen Cheng had come for them instead of collecting the debt from Widow Tian, they would be the ones suffering right now.
As for Widow Tian and her two companions, they had long since slipped back home and bolted the gate to their courtyard.
...
「Ronghe Restaurant on Upper Street.」
It was a newly opened restaurant, and business was pretty good.
The men found a private room and took their seats. Chen Cheng was not stingy, ordering a platter of braised pork knuckle, a roast goose, a stewed chicken, a plate of red-braised lamb spine, several vegetable dishes, and two bottles of strong liquor.
This lavish gesture earned him a great deal of goodwill from Liu Yunfeng. As for Liao San and the other two constables, they held Chen Cheng in even higher regard.
After all, a constable's salary wasn't much higher than a Prison Guard's, and the three of them rarely got to eat at a proper restaurant.
After a few cups of liquor, Chen Cheng had grown familiar with them.
"By the way, Mr. Liu, yesterday Mr. Jiang escorted a prisoner into the Prison. I heard he was a notorious brigand responsible for wiping out an entire family. After Mr. Jiang personally interrogated him, he led some men out to make arrests. I wonder how that went?"
Spurred on by the liquor, Chen Cheng asked casually. After all, the prisoner had promised him one hundred and fifty taels of silver; it would be good to dig up some useful information.
"Notorious brigand? You mean the matter with the Zhou Family in Ruyi District?" Liu Yunfeng's expression suddenly turned grim. "Ah Cheng, how much do you know about this?"
It wasn't just Liu Yunfeng; Liao San and the other two constables also looked grave.
Chen Cheng's heart skipped a beat. 'I just asked a casual question. Did I just kick a hornet's nest?'
"Mr. Liu, what could a Little Prison Guard like me possibly know? I just saw Mr. Jiang interrogating the prisoner himself and happened to ask Uncle Li Tao about it.
After Mr. Jiang finished the interrogation yesterday, he wanted the man kept alive, so I was the one who treated his injuries."
"I see." Liu Yunfeng's expression softened. He immediately lowered his voice. "Ah Cheng, this is a major affair. It involves powerful figures from one of the great families in the Inner City.
In the eyes of those powerful people, forget about you—even I could be gotten rid of at a moment's notice…"
Liu Yunfeng raised a hand and made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Take my advice: don't go asking questions, and don't try to get near that prisoner."
"I understand. Thank you for the warning, Mr. Liu."
Chen Cheng cupped his fists and thanked him sincerely.
Though he struggled to remain composed, a storm was already raging in his heart.
Liu Yunfeng was a Martial Artist of the Skin Grinding Realm and a Ninth Grade Chief Constable—an imposing figure of authority in the eyes of common folk. For even he to be this cautious, it was easy to imagine how perilous the situation was.
'This world really is dangerous. Curiosity almost killed the cat, and I nearly got myself killed before I even got started!
My power is still far too weak. I have to be more careful!'
With that thought, Chen Cheng naturally didn't dare to ask anything more.
Liu Yunfeng, Liao San, and the others also made a point to avoid the topic.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Liu Yunfeng and his men, having afternoon duties to attend to, bid a hasty farewell and departed.
Chen Cheng went to the counter and settled the bill, which came to a total of 380 cents. This was more than half a month's worth of food expenses for the Chens', and he couldn't help but feel the painful sting of the expense.
'The money wasn't wasted, though. Liu Yunfeng's warning may well have saved me from a fatal disaster. Besides, getting on good terms with him and his men will at least ensure my family can live more peacefully in Locust Tree Lane!'
Chen Cheng consoled himself with these thoughts. Lost in his own world, he headed for the restaurant's entrance and, being distracted, nearly collided with a young woman who was just walking in.
Fortunately, Chen Cheng's reflexes were quick enough for him to dodge aside.
The young woman was about sixteen or seventeen, with a tall, slender figure and a lovely face. She was dressed in light-blue martial attire, draped in a sable-fur cloak, with a pair of short swords at her waist. Her expression was one of pure indignation.
"You… You're Chen Cheng? What are you doing here?"
Chen Cheng froze for a moment. He didn't think he knew this young woman. After searching his memory for a long while, he finally recalled who she was: none other than Jiang Yun, the girl he'd been betrothed to since childhood.
Chen Cheng had only met Jiang Yun once, three years ago, before awakening his Innate Wisdom. That was why he hadn't recognized her right away.
Jiang Yun's tone was hostile, her posture radiating arrogance. Chen Cheng wasn't about to coddle her. "This is a restaurant," he said irritably. "Obviously, I'm here to eat."
"Eat? You? A measly little Prison Guard?
Do you have any idea how much a meal at Ronghe Restaurant costs?"
Jiang Yun sneered as if she had just heard the world's greatest joke.