Chapter 19.3

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Wang’s eldest son was infamous in Lin’an Town for his debauchery. A notorious playboy, he wasn’t content with a household full of concubines and spent his days frequenting brothels and gambling dens. When summoned, the shop clerks had to drag him out of a brothel by force.

When he finally arrived, he was still reeking of alcohol, his clothing disheveled. His father had someone force-feed him a bowl of sobering soup before he regained some clarity.

In front of Fan Changyu, the Wang shopkeeper demanded harshly, “You unfilial brat! Did you order someone to smash up Fan’s shop?”

Wang’s eldest son, his swollen, bloodshot eyes, swept over Fan Changyu, sizing her up with a lecherous gaze. After a few moments of scrutiny, he sneered and chuckled. “Well, well, quite the beauty, aren’t you? Rumor has it you climbed into Old Li the cook’s bed to steal business from my family and Yixiang Lou, and now you’ve got the gall to show up here? You’ve got thicker skin than a courtesan.”

It was well-known that Yixiang Lou often bought famous dishes from other places to feature in its menu. The female proprietor of the restaurant had a unique business approach. Though some said it was unprofitable for her to bring in dishes from competitors, her strategy of borrowing from the best had made Yixiang Lou far more successful than other traditional restaurants that refused to adapt.

After all, the clientele who could afford to dine at Yixiang Lou were wealthy landowners and gentry. In the small town, there were only so many well-known delicacies, and getting them often required sending servants on multiple trips to different locations. At Yixiang Lou, not only could one enjoy its signature private dishes, but with a word to the waiter, they could also order local specialties to be served immediately. This convenience and variety had given the establishment an edge over its competitors.

In the town, it was considered an honor for anyone selling pastries, snacks, braised meats, or prepared foods to have their products featured at Yixiang Lou.

Upon hearing Wang’s eldest son’s remarks, the expressions of the crowd immediately became varied—some were surprised, some skeptical, and others just eager to enjoy the drama. Their gazes frequently landed on Fan Changyu. Her looks were indeed striking, but with her fierce personality, the idea of her sneaking around for business deals seemed absurd. If someone had claimed she was extorting people or robbing shops, that might have sounded more plausible.

The crowd collectively shuddered at the thought. Who in their right mind would dare have such ideas about her? Just watching her slaughter pigs and chop meat would be enough to put any such notions to rest.

Wang’s shopkeeper, meanwhile, glared at his son with wide eyes and bellowed, “You unfilial brat! What nonsense are you spouting?”

Wang’s eldest son, utterly unconcerned, shrugged off the rebuke. He had a long-standing habit of bullying men and harassing women in the town and clearly didn’t regard Fan Changyu as a threat. “Father, our dealings with Yixiang Lou are already ruined anyway. Why shouldn’t I speak my mind? Are you still scared of offending that old cook Li?”

His eyes roved shamelessly over Fan Changyu as he added with a lewd grin, “To steal from someone, at least pick someone worth stealing from, not some old—”

Before he could finish, his words hung in the air, the tension palpable.

With a resounding bang, the heavy cutting board used to display braised meat at Wang’s shop was sent flying by a single kick from Fan Changyu. The solid board, unable to withstand the force, splintered with a gaping hole. The braised meat scattered across the floor, and the drunken Wang family heir was pinned under the shattered board, half of his body trapped beneath it.

Master Jin and his lackeys turned their heads, eyes wide with shock. They stared at the broken cutting board, made of sturdy ironwood, and collectively gulped, shrinking further to the side. The same thought ran through their minds: So when she beat us before, she was holding back!

If she’d used that level of strength back then, they would’ve ended up with more than just bruises—they’d still be bedridden with broken bones.

The Wang family heir howled in pain, his voice sharp and pitiful as he writhed under the board. He waved his arms at the two servants standing nearby and screamed, “Are you two dead? Hurry up and get your young master out of here!”

The two servants glanced at the black iron cleaver Fan Changyu had just pulled out. Behind her, Master Jin and his gang were flexing their fingers, clearly itching for a fight. Neither servant dared approach; instead, their legs, as soft as noodles, wobbled as they retreated two steps further.

The Wang shopkeeper, sweating profusely at the escalating scene, felt his heart clench when he saw Fan Changyu gripping the cleaver. Forcing a placating smile, he said, “Miss Fan, my son spoke out of turn. I promise to discipline this unfilial brat thoroughly. Please, don’t lose your temper…”

Fan Changyu ignored him completely. With a heavy stomp, she brought her foot down onto the cutting board. The solid ironwood plank, which normally required two men to lift, cracked further under her strength, leaving yet another gaping hole. The Wang family heir, still pinned beneath it, began foaming at the mouth, his eyes rolling back as he fainted on the spot.

The onlookers gasped audibly, and several timid women covered their eyes with their sleeves, fearing that the next moment would see Fan Changyu swinging her cleaver down on the heir’s head.

The Wang shopkeeper, his voice trembling, pointed at Fan Changyu and stammered, “Y-you… Are you planning to kill someone?”

Fan Changyu cast a cold glance at the Wang shopkeeper and sneered. “Kill someone? Why would I kill anyone? Killing means prison time. At most, I’d just cut out your precious son’s tongue and have him chew it up and swallow it himself. That way, he won’t be running his mouth again.”

The Wang shopkeeper nearly lost his footing from fright. He had to be supported by two servants to avoid collapsing outright. His face turned pale as he pointed a trembling finger at Fan Changyu, stammering “Y-you…” for several moments, but no complete sentence escaped his lips.

Pinned under the splintered cutting board, the Wang family heir had finally realized the gravity of his situation. His face was ashen, and tears streamed down as he wailed pitifully, “Father, save me!”

The Wang shopkeeper, his voice trembling, called out, “Call the authorities! Quick, call the authorities!”

One of Wang’s servants tried to make a break for it, but Master Jin and his gang immediately blocked the way. “So it’s fine for you lot to bully others, but the moment someone demands justice, you want to call the law?” one of them barked.

Fan Changyu, unfazed, slapped the cleaver heavily against the Wang heir’s bloated, greasy face. The dull thud of the blade made onlookers flinch. “Tell me,” she said coldly, “when did I ever steal business from Yixiang Lou?”