Chapter 337

The Liao family's scale was lower than the Jiang family's by more than just a margin.

Jiang Sheng stepped over the threshold that reached to her calves and stopped in front of the redwood bronze door.

"Young lady, are you really going?" Jiang San tried to dissuade her to no avail, "Even if you insist on going, you should at least take the young master with you."

Every time the siblings encountered something, they would forge ahead together.

The advantage was that they could sail through storms and overwhelm all in their path.

The disadvantage was...

There were no disadvantages.

Jiang Sheng also liked to solve difficulties and slash through thorns together with her brothers.

But as they grew up, there would inevitably come a time when they had to face the wind and rain alone.

When her eldest brother encountered difficulties at the Imperial College, he could only solve them himself; when her second brother met with troubles during his travels, he could also only rely on himself; her third brother was fighting alone in the northern borderlands. So naturally, she could also face the Liao family alone.

Most importantly, the others were mere ants to the Liao family, only she had the Jiang family's amulet for protection.

“Don’t worry,” Jiang Sheng was exceptionally calm. “The Liao family wouldn’t dare touch me.”

As she spoke, Jiang Si had already knocked the bronze ring.

The Liao residence's gate was quickly opened as the gatekeeper stuck his head out to see who it was.

“It’s the Jiuzhen Store delivering lychees,” Jiang Sheng spoke in her eldest brother's calm and noble tone.

The gatekeeper faltered for a moment before hurriedly opening the door, his demeanor respectful. “Please come inside.”

The three of them strode in smoothly, passing through pavilions and corridors, across a garden arch, finally stopping in the spacious bright main yard.

A plump maid came over to receive them and led them into the reception hall, even brewing them a pot of tea.

So far, the Liao family had been quite polite. Jiang Sheng quietly placed the chilled lychees in a conspicuous spot, waiting for someone to come over to discuss business.

However, after having waited for a long time, even the protective ice outside had started melting, yet still no one came.

Jiang San was hot-tempered. “Young lady, since we've delivered the goods already, let's leave first.”

Even if they were merchants without an illustrious family background, they didn't deserve such cold treatment.

But checking and accepting lychee shipments had always been necessary to ensure no issues when handing over goods between both parties.

Jiang Sheng thought for a moment, “Let’s wait a little longer.”

She picked up the teacup, mimicking how her grandmother would lightly flick away the tea scum with the cup lid before leaning in for a whiff.

The fragrance was strong, the tea leaves a verdant green and smooth. Even a tea layman would be able to feel that the tea leaves were of indisputable value.

Whether it was the Liao family being generous in treating a petty merchant well, or their extravagant wealth on full display in how even their guest tea was of such quality, Jiang Sheng did not know.

Until a low male voice called out from the inner chamber, “Is it tasty? This is West Lake’s best Longjing tea, priced at three thousand taels of silver per jin.”

A jin was equivalent to sixteen liang; each liang would cost close to two hundred silver taels.

A liang was also equivalent to ten qian. Half a qian of tea leaves would be used each time it was brewed.

Therefore, the tea in her cup would be worth at least...

“Ten taels. This cup of tea cost ten taels of silver,” A middle-aged man ambled out lazily. He had a slightly round belly, his complexion like shining silver, his eyes round like marbles - stout in that slightly plump and rounded way.

At first glance, he looked a little like Jiang Chengyuan. On closer inspection, his resemblance with Jiang Sheng was greater.

As the saying goes, nephew resembles uncle. Indeed, there was some truth to it.

Jiang Sheng discretely set down the teacup in her hands. “Lord Liao has finally arrived. The forty taels of chilled lychees have already been delivered. Please check and verify the shipment, then we will return to the Jiuzhen Store.”

Lord Liao faltered. It seemed like he hadn’t expected this fair maiden with her smooth complexion and refined features to resemble him so greatly, even her gaze was much more complex as he appraised her. “You are Jiang Sheng? The Jiang family’s daughter? I am your uncle, you ought to pay your respects to me.”

An uncle?

She didn’t even have a mother, so where would an uncle stand?

Jiang Sheng found it somewhat laughable as she stood up. “I am here today on the Jiuzhen Store’s behalf. We can talk about familial ties when we meet at the Jiang residence another day.”

That meant she was unwilling to acknowledge him as uncle.

Lord Liao’s expression darkened, deeply disapproving. “I am your uncle. By not paying your respects when told to do so, and instead going against me over the lychee business, it is clear your mother did not teach you well.”

Jiang Sheng's eyebrows knitted into a frown.

“The Dayu Dynasty governs with filial piety. As a junior acting disrespectfully towards your elder, refusing to even recognize your closest uncle, just who do you expect to acknowledge?” Lord Liao continued to scold. “And the Jiuzhen Store’s lychees - are they really the Liao family’s? Using such sly and malicious tricks like freezing lychees to sell them, you sure have wicked thoughts!” Jiang Sheng’s frown only deepened. She had already expected that the Liao family would not have pure intentions, but hearing the barrage of accusations still made her want to laugh a little.

Wasn’t business competition like this? Whoever had shrewder ideas would be able to turn the tables; whoever grasped fleeting opportunities would have a chance.

The Liao family had sacrificed massive profits to depress lychee prices. Meanwhile, the Jiuzhen Store froze lychees to bide their time.

It was as if the Liao family had lost this round. Their resentment was understandable, but pushing the blame onto the Jiuzhen Store just made them look petty.

Jiang San and Jiang Si were itching to teach them a lesson.

Jiang Sheng held them back. Recalling the methods her fifth brother might use, not only was she not mad, she even had a sweet smile on her face. “Lord Liao guessed correctly. The lychees we’re selling now were bought from the Liaos. We have today’s success entirely thanks to you.”

Both sides were shipping lychees, both were engaged in business competition. The Liao family had given up massive profits, benefiting the Jiuzhen Store instead.

Lord Liao choked, nearly passing out from anger.

Yet Jiang Sheng’s smile remained guileless, her big eyes full of gratitude.

Lord Liao felt humiliated yet furious. Trembling with rage, he raised his hand high up.

Jiang San and Jiang Si were ready to unsheathe their blades in an instant, willing to make this place run red with blood.

Yet both sides knew - with the Jiangs present, with Madam Jiang keeping vigil, Lord Liao would never dare bring his hand down no matter how high he raised it.

At best, he could act the uncle and press down on them with seniority, venting some frustrations.

But the newly arrived Jiang Chengyuan knew none of these inner workings.

When Lord Liao’s raised hand entered his vision upon kicking down the Liao residence’s gates, fury erupted within the youth. His sturdy, powerful frame spun in the air before pouncing over in a flash too quick to cover one’s ears. Executing a flawless backwards kick,

“Crack”, the sound of Lord Liao smashing into the table.

“Thud thud”, the sound of Lord Liao spitting out broken teeth.

The once prestige-clad middle-aged man now lay feebly on the ground, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth, two yellowed teeth lying conspicuously in front of him - such a glaring and scalding sight.

“Milord!” The Liao family’s maids cried out as they rushed over.

“Sis!” Jiang Chengyuan also dashed to Jiang Sheng’s side, before silently retreating a few steps back upon seeing only confusion on the young lady’s face.

Having rushed over belatedly, Jiang Chengfeng’s siblings watched this scene unfold while quivering fearfully in the corners, not daring to make a sound.

Madness, utter madness.

Just as Lord Liao had said, the Dayu Dynasty governed with filial piety. Parents could be overbearing and unreasonable, but their children must obey and be filial. Once discovered to be unfilial, the lightest punishment would be public scorn, while the heavier sentence would be stripping them of achievements and official titles, disbarring them from government service forever.

No matter what, Lord Liao was Jiang Chengyuan’s closest uncle on his father’s side. Jiang Chengyuan could act against the Liao family’s business, but he could not show disrespect towards Lord Liao.

To openly kick out Lord Liao’s two teeth in front of so many witnesses would likely spell serious trouble.