My Apprentice Is Too Diligent

Chapter 2: Seizing by Cunning or Force

Chen Lindong!

Chen Wuji's gaze turned cold.

He returned to his bedroom, picked up his coat, and walked out while putting it on.

"What happened to Chen Lindong again?"

"It seems that he accidentally broke an antique plate while buying groceries and was caught on the spot by Xiong Zengming from the Xiong Gang." The old butler Ge followed closely, answering with a worried tone, "The broken antique plate is said to be of immeasurable value. Xiong Zengming came to demand compensation for it."

Broke it accidentally while buying groceries?

A priceless antique appearing in the vegetable market?

And it happened to be caught by Xiong Zengming, the deputy leader of the Xiong Gang?

Are there really so many coincidences?

Chen Wuji's brain worked quickly as he walked expressionlessly.

He arrived at the front yard.

"Master!"

"Master, that guy with the surname Xiong is bullying people again!"

"Master, let's fight them!"

...

In the courtyard, two groups of people had gathered.

One side consisted of disciples from the Hidden Dragon Gate, with everyone except the youngest eighth disciple present.

The other side was a group dressed in black with a fierce bear head embroidered on their chests.

The leader was a big man with a thick waist and broad shoulders, muscular and nearly eight feet tall. He had a rough appearance and was stepping on a young boy, looking at Chen Wuji who was approaching with a mocking gaze.

"Master Chen has finally arrived."

Xiong Zengming raised his chin and looked at Chen Wuji, chuckling, "Your disciple broke a precious flower plate that I had forgotten outside. This flower plate was a royal artifact from the previous dynasty and is of immeasurable value! Master Chen, tell me, how should we settle this matter?"

"He's lying! Master, he's scheming and deliberately framing me!"

Chen Lindong, who was being stepped on by Xiong Zengming, struggled and shouted in anger and frustration.

Chen Wuji remained indifferent, glanced at Chen Lindong, and said nothing.

Then, he looked at Su Dayong and spoke, "Older brother, you and Xiaosi went out to buy groceries together. Tell us what happened."

"Yes, tell the truth, tell it as it is."

Xiong Zengming sneered, "With you as a witness, it's perfect. Speak in detail, did I scheme and frame him?"

He exerted a little force on Chen Lindong's face, causing it to turn red, and he groaned softly.

"Yes, Master."

Su Dayong's face was full of anger as he gritted his teeth and said, "In the morning, Xiaosi and I went to the vegetable market as usual and bought groceries at several stalls. But when we bought fish and were on our way back, we found that the fish had died quickly. So we went back to the stall to ask for a refund, but the stall owner refused and insisted that we had killed the fish."

"Xiaosi couldn't stand it and argued with him, asking the stall owner to refund us. But the stall owner refused to refund and even picked up a bowl from the nearby stall and threw it at Xiaosi."

"Xiaosi fought back passively and broke the bowl."

"As a result, just as one of the plates broke, Xiong Zengming suddenly rushed out and claimed that the plate belonged to his family!"

"Hey, hey, young man, watch your words." Xiong Zengming coldly snorted and shouted, "What do you mean by suddenly rushing out? The gang leader just happened to pass by, okay?"

"Just happened to pass by?"

Chen Yifan sneered, pointing at Xiong Zengming and sarcastically said, "Aren't you, the leader of the Xiong Gang, always either in the brothel or at the gambling den? How come you had so much free time this morning to stroll around the vegetable market where all kinds of flavors gather?"

"That's right." Han Ying chimed in, "Xiong Zengming, what are you pretending for? Do you think we're blind?"

"You little girl, watch your mouth."

Ignoring Chen Yifan, Han Ying, and others, Xiong Zengming stared at Chen Wuji and sneered, "When I went to the vegetable market, it's none of your business. But Master Chen, your disciple broke my royal plate, and that's an undeniable fact!"

"I know."

Chen Wuji said calmly, "Xiaosi broke the plate. Deputy Leader Xiong, how do you want to be compensated?"

"Master..." Chen Lindong cried out with a sobbing voice.

Chen Yifan, Han Ying, Su Dayong, and others were filled with grief and anger.

"Hahaha!"

Xiong Zengming burst into laughter, "Master Chen is straightforward. This royal plate has become a unique item today. Originally worth tens of thousands of taels of silver, since Master Chen is so generous, I won't ask for much. Three thousand taels will do!"

"As long as you give me three thousand taels of silver, this matter will be settled."

Xiong Zengming squinted his eyes, looking expectantly at Chen Wuji.

"What? Three thousand taels? Why don't you just go rob someone!"

"Master, don't listen to him!"

"..."

Chen Yifan, Han Ying, Su Dayong, and others were furious and cursed loudly.

"Master, don't worry about me!"

Chen Lindong also lay on the ground, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Xiong Zengming, forget it! Everyone should take responsibility for their own actions. I broke the dishes, so I'll take responsibility! You want money? Impossible! If necessary, I'll use my life to pay!"

"Are you sure?"

Xiong Zengming glanced at Chen Lindong, then quickly turned his gaze back to Chen Wuji, grinning, "Master Chen, are you sure you won't interfere and let me handle your disciple as I please?"

"Yes, do whatever you want, just don't force my master!" Chen Lindong shouted.

"Shut up."

Chen Wuji glanced at Chen Lindong coldly and said, "I can't come up with three thousand taels of silver right now, at least not for half a month. After half a month, I'll give you three thousand taels."

"Master..." Chen Lindong burst into tears.

Chen Yifan, Han Ying, Su Dayong, and others gritted their teeth in frustration.

"Hahaha!"

Xiong Zengming laughed loudly, "I knew Master Chen would care for his disciples. However, half a month is too long. Five days! I'll give you five days to come up with the money."

With a change of tone, he continued, "Of course, if you're willing to use the recipe for 'Drunk Spring Breeze' as a substitute, not only will the three thousand taels be waived, but I'll give you three thousand taels in return."

"In other words, the recipe for 'Drunk Spring Breeze' is worth six thousand taels of silver! Master Chen, what do you think..."

"You're dreaming!" Chen Yifan's face turned red first, and he angrily said, "Xiong Zengming, you're out of your mind!"

"I knew it. Why is Vice Leader Xiong so easy to talk to today? Turns out he has his eyes on 'Drunk Spring Breeze'." Han Ying sneered.

Su Dayong, Duan Zhen, Chen Qingning, and others were all filled with righteous indignation.

Chen Wuji also suddenly realized.

"Drunk Spring Breeze" was the pillar industry of the Chen Family, the signature wine of the Chen Restaurant.

Just selling the wine alone brought in a net profit of over ten thousand taels a year.

With such huge profits, it was natural that the Chen Family couldn't protect it on their own.

More than ten years ago, the Chen Restaurant had already attracted the attention of the county lord of White Water County.

There was involvement from the county lord.

The Xiong Gang, where Xiong Zengming belonged, didn't dare to cause trouble at the restaurant and forcibly seize the recipe.

After all, Xiong Zengming himself was at the Body Refining Seventh Layer.

Understanding the reason, Chen Wuji raised his hand to stop his disciples from cursing, looked at Xiong Zengming with an expressionless face, and said, "Vice Leader Xiong's kindness is understood. I will definitely come up with three thousand taels of silver within five days."

"Alright."

Xiong Zengming glanced around, unwillingly lifted his foot, clapped his hands, and said, "Okay, I'll come back in five days."

"Let's go, everyone."

With a graceful turn, Xiong Zengming walked away.

"Let's go, let's go."

A group of gang members shouted and followed him out.

Clatter!

Before leaving, one of them dropped a bag of broken dishes.

"Our leader is mighty!"

"Hahaha, Hidden Dragon Gate, or maybe Insect Gate!"

"Insect Gate! Insect Gate!"

(End of this chapter)