Chapter 14

This night, they slept very soundly, and it wasn't until the next morning when the sun was high that the two of them got up. Mei'er had a smile on her face, clearly the joy from last night had not yet faded.

However, today's little girl was quite out of character, not chattering incessantly as usual, but quietly started a fire and prepared hot water for washing up, which made Jiang Xingchen somewhat uncomfortable.

After washing his face, Jiang Xingchen looked at the bowl of light salt water Mei'er handed him and sighed inwardly: "Does this world not have toothbrushes? Even a willow branch would do... No, I must make one myself later!"

After tidying up, they walked out of the courtyard gate. Everything was as usual, with no trace of the brawl from last night.

The two of them headed to the market. On the way, Mei'er didn't talk much, just smiled and quietly followed behind Jiang Xingchen.

However, as soon as they entered the market, seven or eight ruffians suddenly surrounded them, startling the two. Mei'er hid behind Jiang Xingchen, her hand trembling as she clutched his sleeve.

"Good morning, Young Master Jiang! Miss Mei'er!" The ruffians bowed together, their momentum overwhelming. Although they tried to show what they thought were friendly smiles, they still looked aggressive.

Jiang Xingchen looked at them with some suspicion, on guard! He wasn't too worried now that he had activated his Primordial Spring. But the little girl was already terrified of these people, wishing to hide herself completely in her brother's body.

These ruffians, who frequented the market, were quite perceptive. Seeing Jiang Xingchen's expression, they immediately understood. One of the big men hurriedly explained: "Young Master Jiang! It's Young Master Sun from Xianxiangju who asked us to take good care of you!"

"Sun Sanqiang!" Jiang Xingchen nodded, slowly lowering his guard. From the attitude of the other party yesterday, he could tell that they couldn't provoke Mo Hongxian and didn't dare to offend him.

"I didn't expect him to have connections with these ruffians!" Jiang Xingchen thought to himself, nodding at the big man and said, "We don't need any special treatment. You can go back and thank Young Master Sun for me!"

After saying that, without waiting for a response, he led Mei'er forward. As a noble facing commoners, he naturally had a superior attitude, which he had observed over the past two days.

The ruffians didn't dare to stop them and quickly made way! After the two had walked a distance, they exchanged glances and then cautiously followed behind.

Mei'er, tense, clutched Jiang Xingchen's sleeve and looked back, whispering, "Brother, they are still following us!"

Jiang Xingchen smiled faintly and said, "If they want to follow, let them. Don't mind them... Don't forget, brother has activated his Primordial Spring, so there's no need to fear them!"

"That's right! Brother will soon restore his noble status, what is there to fear!" The little girl seemed to suddenly realize, straightening her posture.

"Ha ha!" Jiang Xingchen smiled and patted Mei'er's head, saying, "Let's go! We'll head to the pharmacy first to treat your hand!"

Thus, a strange scene unfolded: Jiang Xingchen led Mei'er in front, followed closely by seven or eight big men with cautious expressions! Passersby and vendors in the market all cast puzzled glances, as no one had ever seen the market's bullies act this way. If they were dressed in fine clothes and acted arrogantly, it would be understandable, but the man and woman were clearly dressed in rough linen, definitely commoners.

"What's wrong with Hong Lao Da and the others? Why are they so cautious with two commoners? Besides Young Master Sun from Xianxiangju, they haven't been afraid of anyone!"

"Who knows, these two might not be commoners, they could have some special status!"

"Nonsense, if they weren't commoners, why would they dress like this? Have you ever seen a noble so unkempt?"

"Maybe Hong Lao Da and the others are sick, their minds..."

"You want to die, if they hear you, you're dead..."

These people didn't dare to speak loudly, as the ruffians had too much power in the market.

In no time, they reached the pharmacy, and Jiang Xingchen led Mei'er inside.

Inside, a large, fat man in a cotton robe sat, with a deep cut on his hand, blood flowing profusely, causing him to groan in pain, his fat face distorted.

A middle-aged man with a goatee was holding a piece of linen, sprinkling white powder on the fat man's wound while bandaging it.

After entering, Jiang Xingchen glanced once and turned pale, thinking to himself, "Such a wound, why isn't it stitched? The powder probably won't even cover it..."

A young apprentice behind the counter asked, "Are you here to buy medicine?"

"No! My sister has a hand injury, please have the shopkeeper take a look!" Jiang Xingchen said.

"The shopkeeper is busy, please wait a moment!" The apprentice pointed to the middle-aged man with the goatee.

"Alright!" Jiang Xingchen nodded, looked around the hall, and saw no chairs except where the fat man was, so he and Mei'er stood and waited.

The ruffians outside saw Jiang Xingchen and Mei'er waiting and immediately showed their fierce expressions, ready to enter. But a glance from Jiang Xingchen stopped them.

The ruffians were somewhat surprised, not understanding why Jiang Xingchen didn't want the shopkeeper to see them first. If they intervened, the shopkeeper wouldn't dare refuse.

However, with Sun Sanqiang's instructions, they didn't dare to act rashly, only shaking their heads silently and dispersing at the door... They didn't know that even with his noble status, Jiang Xingchen couldn't change the habits formed over years in a civilized society.

After a long wait, the shopkeeper finally finished bandaging the fat man, turned to look at Jiang Xingchen and Mei'er, and said coldly, "Wait a moment more," before going behind the counter to drink water and rest.

Jiang Xingchen didn't mind; the doctor was human and needed a break after working for so long.

However, what happened next made him lose his composure. After the fat man left, a thin, well-dressed man entered, demanding to be seen. The shopkeeper immediately came out from behind the counter.

"Shopkeeper, we were here first!" Jiang Xingchen's tone was extremely displeased, his face darkening.

The shopkeeper turned and glanced at them disdainfully, saying coldly, "If you don't want to wait, go to another shop!"

The thin man also sneered, whispering to the shopkeeper, "Look at their clothes, they probably can't even afford the consultation fee..."

Before the thin man finished speaking, his vision darkened as seven or eight big men rushed in. Then he felt a hand press on his head, his vision spinning, and heard a thud. His face hit the ground, and intense pain spread from his face...

A few minutes later, the middle-aged man with the goatee, his right cheek swollen and his right eye reduced to a slit, trembled as he applied ointment to Mei'er's hands.

In the corner, the thin man, who had been too talkative, was even worse off, his body swollen like a quail, trembling and crying in the corner.

"These ruffians are too brutal..." The shopkeeper's trembling expression made Jiang Xingchen feel a bit sorry. But then his eyes narrowed, and his lips twitched, thinking, "But it feels so good! You damn ruffian, if it weren't for the small space, I would have stepped on your face..."

Soon, the group left in a grand procession. The shopkeeper, holding two yellow crystal coins, looked at the mess around him, wanting to cry but unable to: "Who are these people? Too damn mean, pretending to be commoners to trick people, what a joke..."

While the shopkeeper was inwardly lamenting, the tailor who had bought Jiang Xingchen's silk for six yellow crystal coins was also in a state of despair. The advantage he had gained the other day was now lost. The little girl pointed out flaws with great expertise, and her haggling was like a knife, cutting deep. He wanted to argue but, seeing the line of ruffians, swallowed his words.

It took a full month for the tailor to finally send the group away like a plague. Soon after, a wave of curses erupted in the tailor's shop.

In the market, Mei'er touched the soft, warm fur dress and looked at her new shoes, her face beaming with excitement.

Jiang Xingchen, with a gentle expression, felt a great sense of joy seeing the little girl happy.

"Young Master Jiang! Where are we going next?" A big man asked.

"To the Imperial Academy!" Jiang Xingchen said. He no longer rejected these ruffians. His earlier refusal was just to avoid being associated with Sun Sanqiang, but since they had helped him at the pharmacy, he couldn't keep a cold face now.

"The Imperial Academy is in the east of the city, quite far! Young Master Jiang, please wait a moment!" A ruffian said, turning and quickly leaving.

Not long after, a luxurious carriage pulled by four horses arrived. The carriage immediately caught the attention of everyone on the street.

The carriage stopped beside them, but Mei'er looked nervous and uneasy, her earlier excitement gone.

"Brother! Let's not take the carriage!" Mei'er clutched Jiang Xingchen's sleeve and whispered, "They helped us and arranged such a luxurious carriage, they must have a purpose..."

Jiang Xingchen rubbed Mei'er's head and said, "I know, brother has it figured out! Don't worry, just get in... Ha ha, didn't you always want to ride in a luxurious carriage?"

With her brother's reassurance, Mei'er smiled again, her eyes forming a crescent, and she stepped into the carriage.

Jiang Xingchen also got in, and two ruffians sat in the driver's seat, flicking the reins, and the carriage slowly moved away...

The other ruffians, seeing the carriage leave the market and disappear from sight, quickly walked to Xianxiangju nearby.

Not long after, a loud laugh echoed from Xianxiangju: "Hahaha... Jiang Ling didn't refuse, which means this relationship is established... You did well, and you will be rewarded!"

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