Chapter Sixty-Six: The Old Fox’s Meticulous Calculations

Lin Rou was still resentful over Jiang Chen's indifference toward her the previous night, and now, seeing that this rude scoundrel was getting along so well with her father, she could hardly bear it any longer.

“Father, I know him all too well. He’s nothing but a money-grubbing, opportunistic petty man. He keeps saying he’s not after wealth, but who knows what sinister plans he’s harboring inside!”

Lin Xuesong chuckled amiably and waved his hand, his face full of warmth as he spoke to Jiang Chen: “Brother Jiang, pay her no mind. My daughter is a bit headstrong, but if not for your timely assistance on two occasions, she would have been in real danger.”

“She may refuse to admit it, but deep down, she’s truly grateful to you, Brother Jiang.”

“So, even though you have a generous heart and view gold and riches as dirt, I cannot simply accept this favor for nothing. After all, I’m a businessman; I’ve always preferred arrangements of mutual benefit.”

Jiang Chen immediately understood Lin Xuesong’s meaning. This old fox, seasoned by decades in the marketplace, knew that if he simply took the recipe for the medicinal wine and later made a fortune from it, Jiang Chen might return to claim a share, leading to endless entanglements and headaches for both.

Sometimes, things gotten for free are not necessarily good; a fair exchange of interests dispels future worries.

Understanding Lin Xuesong’s intentions, Jiang Chen replied, “You’re right, Old Master Lin. But to be honest, this recipe isn’t worth that much to me, and I wouldn’t want to take advantage of you.”

A thought formed in Lin Xuesong’s mind. He instructed the steward to bring a jade pendant, which he personally handed to Jiang Chen.

“Brother Jiang, let’s exchange this jade pendant for your recipe. This pendant, together with the one my daughter carries, was carved from the same piece of jade—made into a pair by my craftsmen. It isn’t worth much, but it is a token of the Lin household!”

“In the future, should you need anything, show this pendant to any member of the Lin household, and they will treat the bearer as their master and obey your commands.”

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at Lin Xuesong’s shrewdness. The jade pendant preserved both parties’ dignity, and its exchange for the recipe was entirely equal. Everything was handled perfectly, considering all angles.

Though Lin Xuesong claimed the pendant wasn’t valuable, how could an ornament worn by the distinguished daughter of the Lin family be worthless?

The value of the pendant was subjective, but the rights it conferred upon Jiang Chen were immense. Wherever he encountered members of the Lin family, he would have authority to command them. Whether he exercised this power would be up to him.

Lin Xuesong had obtained the recipe through a clever exchange and clearly expressed his intention to draw Jiang Chen closer; with such cunning, it was little wonder he thrived in the southern markets.

By contrast, the Lin family’s eldest daughter, who only knew how to shout and protest, still had much to learn.

As Lin Rou listened, things began to sound off. Moments ago, her father and Jiang Chen were still exchanging polite formalities, but in the blink of an eye, Lin Xuesong was calling him “Brother Jiang” as if they were equals.

The hierarchy was all wrong!

Even the other half of the “Dragon and Phoenix Twin Butterflies” jade pendant was so casually handed to Jiang Chen—this wasn’t merely an attempt at winning someone over.

Seeing her father value Jiang Chen so highly, Lin Rou protested angrily, “Father, that’s enough. It’s true Jiang Chen saved me twice, but we’ve already repaid what we owed him. From now on, let’s call it even!”

“He’s in a hurry to leave anyway, so don’t hold him up any longer. I’m heading to Spring Delight Pavilion for fresh date porridge!”

Spring Delight Pavilion was the restaurant where Lin Rou had hosted her banquet last night and the most prestigious establishment in Ziyang City. Mentioning it now, Lin Rou was clearly still dissatisfied.

Jiang Chen accepted the jade pendant and bade farewell to the Lin household.

The journey from Ziyang to Longjiang would take two days. Along the way, persistent rain made the roads muddy and treacherous. More troubling, Jiang Chen soon realized he was being followed. His pursuers fancied themselves skilled at shadowing, trailing him silently all the while.

But Jiang Chen had sensed their presence since the day he left Ziyang City.

For him, now wasn’t the time to be delayed on the road. He decided to act when the opportunity was right and confront them directly.

The rain had been falling intermittently since morning. Jiang Chen abandoned his horse and chose to travel on foot, avoiding the main road and taking the mountain path to Longjiang, yet his pursuers managed to catch up quickly.

From what he knew of those tailing him, it must be Zhao, the inspector, bringing his men in pursuit. Old Wu’s family had left Guanshan Town in the dead of night—a hasty departure that smacked of escaping justice.

Why else would they leave so hurriedly?

Zhao, the inspector, would surely keep a close watch on Old Wu, but their actions had been a step too late. They found only Jiang Chen, unaware that Old Wu’s family had already reached Longjiang.

“Move faster! Try to run again and I’ll break your legs!”

A rough, crude voice carried through the pattering rain, reaching Jiang Chen’s ears. His keen hearing immediately discerned three sets of footsteps not far ahead, trudging through the mud from east to west.

From the weight of their steps, he knew two were women, and the third was a robust, middle-aged man—judging by his voice, likely around fifty.

All this information swiftly coalesced in Jiang Chen’s mind, helping him piece together the situation.

This ability to draw precise conclusions from scant clues, instantly and anywhere, was a skill even seasoned military veterans rarely mastered.

But Jiang Chen was different: he was the best of the best, the undisputed king of mercenaries.

With abilities inherited from his previous life, he could navigate the chaos of this era with unmatched ease.

Following the voices, Jiang Chen moved forward. Though he was not one for meddling in others’ affairs, his time spent with Wu Yue, the kind-hearted young girl, had touched him.

The world as Jiang Chen understood it was far harsher than Wu Yue could imagine, yet he believed her innocence was worth protecting.

Thus, he promised Wu Yue he would help those homeless refugees, save those forcibly conscripted men—not out of some trivial pity, but to let Wu Yue feel that hope still lingered in this world.

“Please, let us sisters go. We’ll repay the silver we owe you someday.”

“We promise to pay you back. Please, have mercy and spare us!”

Jiang Chen saw two frail young women, their necks bound by ropes, the other end gripped by a dark-faced, burly man with a beard like brambles.