The engraved word on the bottom of the bamboo bowl was subtle and inconspicuous, causing others to overlook it, mistaking it for an ordinary bamboo bowl. The two-bamboo bowls in Jiang Zhou’s hands were nearly identical in terms of texture and depth, making them appear as if they had been cut from the same bamboo.

If not for this small word “yan”, Jiang Zhou might have found himself in an insurmountable predicament.

With the situation now transparent, all eyes were fixed on Niu Ding.

Niu Ding had initially believed that his brother had genuinely suffered from the food served by the profiteer Jiang Zhou, which had prompted his aggressive confrontation.

Little did he anticipate the humiliation that would follow.

Infuriated, Niu Ding closed the distance between them in three quick strides, seized Liu Dong by the collar, and widened his eyes, demanding, “What’s the truth?!”

Liu Dong was already engulfed in embarrassment after being exposed. His stomach genuinely ached, causing his voice to weaken as he stuttered, “I, Brother Niu, I…”

He hesitated for an extended period, struggling to put his thoughts into words. Niu Ding’s impatience was well-known, and he hoisted Liu Dong a bit higher, commanding, “Tell the truth, honestly!”

Liu Dong, intimidated by Niu Ding’s forceful demeanor, reluctantly revealed his misdeeds.

It turned out that he had recognized Jiang Zhou earlier and was aware of his initial intention to open a spice shop. However, he was deceived and subsequently went bankrupt. At the time, he had considered Jiang Zhou to be a fool, easily gullible enough to be taken advantage of.

Some time ago, when Jiang Zhou’s sponge cake business was flourishing, Liu Dong felt envious. He perceived Jiang Zhou’s success as mere luck, believing that he had stumbled upon a novel idea.

At the time, Jiang Zhou’s business was thriving, and nearly everyone in the vicinity knew that he was making money from sponge cakes. After all, Jiang Zhou’s stall was often sold out early.

Several people had toyed with the idea of imitating his business, especially when they discovered that the original recipe, as revealed by Young Master Qiu, was just eggs and flour. They secretly conducted experiments, hoping for success. But they never succeeded.

Liu Dong was accustomed to mischief, but his attempts at imitation never bore fruit. His greed got the better of him, and he hatched an ill-conceived plan.

Regrettably, just as he was mentally preparing to enact his scheme, Jiang Zhou ceased making sponge cakes and switched to selling oden.

Liu Dong was infuriated and believed that Jiang Zhou was making a foolish decision. He considered this an opportunity to mock him in secret. However, to his surprise, Jiang Zhou’s oden business began thriving again.

Lured by his greed, Liu Dong feigned dissatisfaction after eating oden and conveniently encountered Niu Ding, who had come looking for him. Niu Ding was notorious for his volatile temper, and Liu Dong intentionally depicted himself as a pitiable victim while characterizing Jiang Zhou as deeply detestable, riling Niu Ding’s anger.

Liu Dong thought he had orchestrated the situation perfectly. He believed that no one would be able to uncover the truth, and that Jiang Zhou would undoubtedly suffer the consequences of his naiveté.

To resolve the matter, Liu Dong would ask a sum of money, and in a bid to appear more convincing, he genuinely refrained from eating.

As a result, he now genuinely suffered from a severe stomachache.

At this point, nobody cared whether Liu Dong was genuinely in pain or not. Niu Ding’s actions had drawn harsh judgment from the onlookers. They saw him as having a malicious intent, driven by greed, and possessing an unpleasant demeanor.

Jiang Zhou had no inclination to inquire about Liu Dong’s well-being. He was focused on resolving the situation at hand. While Liu Dong had committed a wrongdoing, his greed had led to his own downfall. Simply letting him off the hook didn’t sit well with Jiang Zhou.

Thankfully, Niu Ding, while not excusing his “brother’s” actions, demonstrated a sense of justice and insisted on having Liu Dong issue an apology. Amidst intense pain, Liu Dong looked up at Niu Ding with pleading eyes, shaking from the agony that seemed to be twisting his intestines and stomach.

Niu Ding maintained an emotionless facade and urged Liu Dong to apologize. In a low voice, he delivered a veiled threat to Liu Dong, asserting that if he didn’t apologize, he would suffer greatly from the pain. Liu Dong knew that Niu Ding was fully capable of carrying out this threat, and thus, he could only sob, admitting his fault and promising to never engage in such behavior again.

Jiang Zhou couldn’t help but smile, saying nothing. In response, Niu Ding made a presumption about his intentions and cast him a stern glance.

He then kicked Liu Dong before offering an apology, saying, “I’m sorry for my impulsiveness today.”

Without waiting for any response from Jiang Zhou, Niu Ding, and Liu Dong promptly departed.

The old doctor from Jishi Hall remained silent, gathering his belongings and slowly heading back to his medical center. As he passed by Liu Dong, he stroked his beard and advised, “Young man, make sure to come to Jishi Hall to settle your medical expenses. I’ll prepare the medicine for you.”

With those words, he continued on his way.

Feeling disheartened and irritated by the stares of those around him, Niu Ding left in despair.

With the excitement subsiding, Jiang Zhou’s stall remained active. The onlookers who had endured the cold winds for an extended period were eager to warm up and fill their bellies.

Jiang Zhou had his hands full, and after delivering food, Wen Yan offered his assistance in managing the stall.

The two of them worked diligently for an extended period, and they observed that the small cash drawer was gradually filling up. A sense of satisfaction welled up within them.

.

By evening, there were few people left walking on the streets. Several houses lining the road were illuminated, and the occasional sound of children’s laughter emanated from dimly lit windows.

Amidst this tranquil scene, Jiang Zhou suddenly broached a personal question, “Were you in a lot of pain when you gave birth to Xiao Yi?”

Wen Yan ceased his task and cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Zhou. Jiang Zhou had a tender and affectionate gaze that had the power to captivate.

In response, Wen Yan pursed his lips and, with a smile, shared, “Maybe he knew that it was challenging for me to carry him, so he didn’t trouble me during birth.”

The words he spoke held a truth. During his pregnancy with their child, he had been plagued with constant worries, which had a negative impact on the baby. Yet, when the time for delivery arrived, it went smoothly.

Despite the potential challenges associated with their child’s condition after birth, Wen Yan felt immense joy, evident in his contented expression.

Witnessing his partner’s satisfaction, Jiang Zhou couldn’t resist ruffling Wen Yan’s hair and expressed his gratitude, “Thank you for your hard work, my dear.”

Wen Yan responded with a smile and locked eyes with Jiang Zhou, saying earnestly, “It wasn’t hard.”

—Ever since your return, all the past hardships had transformed into sweetness. This was because I knew that the scars on my body would eventually be healed with your love.