Looking at the Qi Baishi imitation in his hands, Jia Xuesheng couldn't help but exclaim, "Truly, each new generation surpasses the previous one! Elder Jiang has picked up a splendid son-in-law indeed!"
He shook his head and left the place.
The crowd glanced at the shop owner with disdain. People like him didn't focus on honest business but always played tricks, trying to make a quick buck through shady deals. This time, he had hit a snag.
The owner looked coldly in the direction where Xu Hao had vanished and snorted within, "He just had a stroke of dumb luck, what's there to be arrogant about? Does he really think he can walk out of this street?"
He went back inside, dialed a number, and then said coldly, "Just wait! You guys have to drop that calligraphy today!"
Jiang Xuezhun carefully packed the calligraphy, holding it tightly in her arms, and said with admiration, "Husband, you're so incredible, how did you know there was another calligraphy piece inside?"
Xu Hao smiled and said, "Quite simple, when I touched the calligraphy, I noticed it was a bit thicker and heavier than normal, so I guessed there might be a compartment inside. Turns out I was right."
Jiang Xuezhun slightly nodded, despite the holes in Xu Hao's explanation, she chose to believe him unconditionally, since she truly liked him from the bottom of her heart.
At that moment, Xu Hao said, "I have no use for this thing, you take it and give it to your grandfather, consider it a gift from me."
But Jiang Xuezhun said, "Wouldn't it be better if you gave it to him yourself? I always feel that I, his actual granddaughter, am not as favored by him as you, an outsider. He's wandering around on the street right now, but I'm not going."
Xu Hao smiled, "Why not go?"
"Because everything there is so expensive! I want to buy everything, yet I can't afford anything..." Jiang Xuezhun pouted, expressing her helplessness.
"No worries, I'll pay, we're not short on money," Xu Hao said with a generous wave of his hand.
"Yay! Husband, I knew you were the best to me!" Jiang Xuezhun immediately jumped up with joy, hugging Xu Hao, not caring about the looks from people around, and started to shower him with kisses.
Xu Hao shook his head slightly, why did he feel like he was getting conned by this girl? My Virtual Library Empire (*) appreciates your readership at the source.
But he didn't mind, spending money on his wife was only natural.
But just then, a voice suddenly called out, "Kid, quite the big shot, huh? Not short on money? Then how about lending your brother here some to spend?"
Xu Hao and Jiang Xuezhun looked toward the sound and saw a group of punks with steel pipes in hand and tattoos all over their bodies. The muscular man leading them was sizing up a steel pipe in his palm, looking disdainfully at Xu Hao.
The shop owner stood beside them, arrogant, and said, "Kid, come here and kowtow in apology right now, or else our Brother Chao is going to show you what cruelty means today!"
The people around, upon seeing the group, scurried away; clearly, this Brother Chao had a fierce reputation here, and no one dared to mess with him.
But this was normal, as this place was meant for people with no money, and generally, those with wealth and power would never come here, giving them even more audacity when bullying others.
The muscular man was indeed called Brother Chao, and he looked at Jiang Xuezhun with interest, saying to the owner, "Li, I thought you were bluffing at first, but I didn't expect you to actually have such a pretty chick, man, she's really something!"
The owner immediately smiled and said, "Of course, how could I dare to deceive Brother Chao? A girl can only be tamed by a tough guy like you."
"Haha! That's what I like to hear!"
Brother Chao patted the owner's shoulder heavily, making him stumble and bend over.
Brother Chao, filled with arrogance, beckoned Jiang Xuezhun with a hooked finger and said with a lecherous smile, "Sweetheart, come here and let me have a good look at you. Serve me well and maybe I'll let your boyfriend go. Otherwise..."
His two lackeys immediately understood and stepped forward with their steel pipes, ready to attack Xu Hao at the slightest disagreement.
Jiang Xuezhun was furious, finding herself taunted by a mere thug with such vulgar words.
She clenched her fists, ready to rush over and beat them all up.
But Xu Hao suddenly reached out to stop her, shaking his head slightly, "No need to dirty your hands, one phone call from me and they'll all be kneeling and begging for mercy."
Brother Chao laughed upon hearing Xu Hao's words, saying contemptuously, "Oh, kid, you've got quite the act. You want to show off in front of your girlfriend? Too bad, you've met me, and there's nothing I despise more than posers. Everyone who's ever tried to act tough in front of me is pushing up daisies!"
Xu Hao smiled mildly, "Unfortunately, I also dislike people who act tough, but I don't kill them. I prefer to make them promise never to pretend again."
Brother Chao sneered, "You're pretty arrogant, kid. Now I really want to see how you'll make me promise not to act tough again!"
The owner also laughed hysterically, "Damn, this is killing me! When we're having fun with your girlfriend, I really want to see how you'll keep up the act!"