To draw a dragon or to draw a tiger, it was difficult to draw its bones. One might know a person's face, but not their heart.
When Fang Yan arrived at the Jiang Family to denounce them, not only did he not hear any harsh words, he did not receive any trouble from anyone. Instead, he was treated with great courtesy. The Jiang Family's old patriarch, Jiang Xi Fu, was amiable and treated him like a nephew. He did not put on airs when speaking to him, and even ate several large bowls of dumplings that the Jiang Family's old patriarch had personally made. In the end, Jiang Xi Fu straightforwardly gave him an 'explanation' and took the initiative to expel the wrongdoer Jiang Junling from the Jiang Family and remove his name from the Jiang Family's genealogy.
If that was the case, didn't that mean that the Jiang Family recognized their mistakes and were sincerely apologizing to Fang Yan?
That was obviously not the case!
The Jiang Family was a prestigious aristocratic family, and their every move was watched by countless people. Jiang Junling's plan to encircle and annihilate Fang Yan at Flower City's Single Sword Peak had failed, and anyone who paid attention already knew about it.
Now, Mister Swallow Dock had personally taken action and brought the victim, Fang Yan, to the Jiang Family to collect their debt. No matter what, the Jiang Family had to give Fang Yan an explanation. Not only an explanation to Fang Yan, but also to Mister, to Swallow Dock, and to the countless pairs of eyes that were watching and watching from the shadows.
If the Jiang Family did not handle this matter fairly and did not handle it beautifully, then the character and virtue that they had built up over thousands of years would be instantly wiped out.
"The Jiang Family is using their power to bully others!"
"The Jiang Family has caused the Jiang Family to be ruined, and they did not even say a word of apology!"
"The Jiang Family has really gone too far, they don't even want any face!"
This kind of rumor would definitely spread through the mouths of countless people, and the matter of the Jiang Family using their wealth to bully others would become a pillar of shame that would be tied behind them.
Therefore, when Mister brought Fang Yan to his door, the old man of the Jiang family personally received him. His words and actions, as well as the final result of their handling of the matter, made it so that no one could find any basis for criticism. Even the most picky observer, after learning about the way the old man handled the matter, could not say a single word of criticism.
If the matter of Fang Yan eating the dumplings personally made by Old Master Jiang in the Jiang family's old house were to spread out, perhaps many people in Yan Jing city would develop feelings of envy and jealousy towards Fang Yan, and even more people would not be able to help but give a thumbs up to Old Master Jiang and say 'benevolence and righteousness'.
In order to save the face of the hundreds of people in the Jiang family, Old Master Jiang had considered everything inside and outside of the family.
However, it was also because of this that the teacher said that the Jiang Family wanted to kill Fang Yan.
Would you argue with a dead man? Would you care about a person who you knew was going to die getting more benefits?
Of course not!
The reason why the Jiang Family treated Fang Yan so generously was because they would soon take back everything they had paid from Fang Yan. It was just like how gangs were willing to buy arms at a high price, but when the arms dealers were about to leave with the money, they would immediately kill them. In the end, they would get the goods and money back. Therefore, what was so unacceptable about a higher price in the beginning of the negotiation?
Fang Yan turned his head to look at the Jiang family. The wooden gate of the Jiang family's courtyard was already closed. After it was closed, the Jiang family's old house was exactly the same as the other old houses. In the middle of this long street, it seemed somewhat inconspicuous.
No one would have thought that the famous tycoon of Yan Jing was hiding in the dim yellow light of this old street.
Fang Yan squinted his eyes and smiled, saying, "Why does Mister say that?"
"Their attitude was a bit too kind." The mister said, "The apology was a bit too easy, and the punishment for Jiang Junling was a bit too severe."
"They were the ones who committed the crime in the first place. If their attitude was a bit more kind, their apology would be a bit faster, and their punishment for Jiang Junling would be a bit more severe. Isn't this something to be expected? Besides, I don't think their punishment for Jiang Junling was that severe. Banishing him from the Jiang family? Removing his name from the Jiang family's genealogy is something that has no real meaning. Rather than that, wouldn't it be better for them to drag Jiang Junling out and chop off one of his arms or three of his legs? Is that still a punishment? Fortunately, he didn't say something like drinking three cups of wine as punishment. Otherwise, I would have fallen out with that old fellow on the spot. "
"Fang Yan, do you still not understand?" The mister sighed softly and said, "In the past, your opponent was Jiang Junling, and only one Jiang Junling. But from today onwards, your opponent is the old patriarch of the Jiang family, the entire Jiang family, and their branch families. Do you understand? You are about to face a colossus hidden in the darkness. No one can pry into their entire bodies, but a single roll from them is enough to set off a storm. "
Fang Yan looked at the mister and said, "Mister, have you understood this a long time ago?"
"I have."
"If you understand, then why did you bring me here to demand a debt?"
"My original intention was to bring you here to smooth things over and untie this dead knot, but both of you are too stubborn. If Xi Fu had hesitated a bit or was willing to bargain with me when we proposed an explanation, I felt that there was a chance and would have done all I could. However, he agreed without hesitation, and even immediately stated his solution. This proves that he had long since prepared a draft in his mind and made a decision. There is no meaning in talking anymore. "
Fang Yan nodded and said, "I also feel that the atmosphere of the Jiang family is a bit too strange, but what can I do? Even if you don't bring me here to demand a debt, even if I refuse the Jiang family's apology, will the Jiang family be able to live in peace with me? "
"No." The mister said.
"So, do I have a choice? Or is it better to say that simply avoiding will solve the problem I face? The crisis I will encounter? "
"No."
"If that's the case …" Fang Yan squinted his eyes and smiled, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Why can't I act a bit more forceful? And then give Jiang Xi Fu, that hypocritical old fellow, the middle finger? "
"You gave him the middle finger just now?" The mister paused and asked.
"I did." Fang Yan said. "I did it secretly in my heart."
"… …"
"It's not that I don't dare, I just feel that doing this is a bit too much of a loser. If word gets out, I'll be laughed at!" Fang Yan said. "The Jiang family is too strong right now. If I give him the middle finger, others will only laugh at me for overestimating myself, and say that I'm an ant laughing at an elephant for needing to lose weight. But, when the day comes when I trample the Jiang Family under my feet, wouldn't everyone's applause be even more enthusiastic when I do this again? Trampling the Jiang family underfoot is what I'm going to do next. Although it sounds a bit difficult, when I faced Jiang Junling, no one thought that I had any chance of winning! "
The mister looked at Fang Yan and said, "So, be the mister of Swallow Dock, I can help you!"
"You're trying to trick me again."
"… …"
The guest left, the host left.
After the courtyard door closed, old man Jiang Xi Fu walked towards the backyard with a teacup in his hand, humming a tune.
Every night, he had to water the flowers and plants he planted. He had to do this by himself, and no one else was allowed to help.
Jiang Xi Fu placed the teacup on the stone table under the grapevine, and then carried the sprinkler to water the triangle plum in the nursery.
General Xing, dressed in white, stood behind him and said with a smile, "I could smell the fragrance of the dumplings in the study, and my saliva was about to flow out of my mouth. At that time, I wanted the tigress to send me a bowl, but I was afraid that the guests would laugh at me. That kid is really lucky to be able to eat the dumplings that grandpa personally made. "
General Xing turned to look at the tigress in the dark corner and said, "Is there any more of grandpa's chives dumplings? If there is, tell the kitchen to quickly make a bowl for me, a big bowl. If there isn't any, give me a bowl of dumpling soup. At least let me satisfy my craving first. "
The tigress chuckled and said, "I know that Young Master likes to eat this, so I specially asked the kitchen to leave a bowl for you. It should be ready now, right? I'll bring it over for you. "
General Xing had a satisfied look on his face and said, "Go, go. I can't wait. "
When the tigress turned to the kitchen to bring the dumplings, General Xing said to grandpa, "Today, these two unwelcome guests are not easy to entertain, right?"
"Unwelcome guests? How evil can they be? "Jiang Xi Fu said without turning his head. "How powerful can a cat be? Can it eat people like a tiger?"
"Grandpa, let's not talk about mister. He has guarded Swallow Dock for decades, and his hands and eyes are everywhere. Even that person above him is his brother. Although that kid Fang Yan is young, he is not easy to deal with. We can't be deceived by his appearance. "
Jiang Xi Fu turned his head to look at General Xing and grinned. "I was just testing you on purpose. I was afraid that you would make the same mistake as the military order. If that kid was really a simple person, how could he force your little brother to the point where it is difficult for him to return home? If he was really an ordinary person, how could he have the guts to run to our Jiang family and flaunt his strength? I had no choice but to make dumplings for him and expel your little brother from the Jiang family to settle the matter? "
General Xing nodded and said, "It seems that grandpa's evaluation of him is very high?"
"Giving birth to a son is like a general's order. That old bastard Song Zanyang really is shameless enough to do anything to support his disciple." Jiang Xi Fu said with an unfriendly expression. "It's fine if things go smoothly. These words have the smell of fate. But if there are any twists and turns, won't these words become a whip that ruthlessly slaps your face? "
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