Courtyard House: Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) Traded for an Aircraft Carrier, the Whole Count

"All...all of it?"

Lou Bancheng shuddered upon hearing those three words. A flash of disbelief and anger crossed his cloudy old eyes, but it quickly turned into a deep sense of powerlessness.

We are at their mercy, like fish on a chopping board.

Normally, if anyone dared to speak to him like that, he would have had them thrown into the Yongding River to feed the fish. But now, facing Jiang Chen's eyes that seemed to see right through people, he didn't even have the courage to bargain.

What's the point of money if you're about to die?

"Fine...fine!" Lou Bancheng gritted his teeth, each word like blood squeezed from between his teeth, "As long as Section Chief Jiang keeps his word and ensures our family's safe exit from the city, the Lou family's fortune...will all be yours!"

After saying that, he completely collapsed, like a body whose soul had been ripped out.

Jiang Chen nodded in satisfaction. A wise person knows when to yield; this old man may be greedy, but at least he's not stupid.

"Now that we've reached an agreement, let's not dawdle." Jiang Chen stood up, straightened his rain-soaked sleeves, and glanced at the seven or eight heavy leather suitcases on the ground. "Are they all here?"

"All the valuables that are visible are here." Lou Bancheng gave a wry smile and pointed to the boxes. "Inside are thirty large yellow croakers and some of Xiao'e's dowry jewelry. As for the rest... they're all in the hidden compartment in the basement."

At this point, Lou Bancheng looked troubled and hesitated as he looked at Jiang Chen.

"Speak your mind." Jiang Chen frowned.

"Section Chief Jiang, I believe you if you say you can save us. But..." Lou Bancheng looked at the dark, rainy night outside the window, then pointed to the mountain of boxes, his voice trembling, "So much stuff, these boxes alone weigh several hundred pounds, and there's even more in the basement. There are eyes and ears everywhere outside, how are we going to transport it? Even if you have a truck, such a commotion will definitely alert the police at the alley entrance."

This is the most practical problem.

During this special period, transferring such a huge amount of assets is tantamount to carrying a bomb into a fire.

Just then, the study door was suddenly pushed open.

"Old man! What happened?"

Lou's mother rushed in, wearing a coat and carrying a rolling pin, clearly having heard the commotion. Close behind her was Lou Xiao'e, her face streaked with tears and filled with panic.

When they saw Jiang Chen standing in the room, they were all stunned.

"Jiang... Section Chief Jiang?" Lou Xiao'e covered her mouth, looking at the man who always had a cold face in surprise.

Jiang Chen ignored their intrusion, his gaze remaining fixed on Lou Bancheng, a playful smile curving his lips.

"How do you transport it?"

He chuckled lightly, his tone carrying an air of complete control, "Director Lou, you're still looking at things with the eyes of an ordinary person. Since I dared to come, I naturally have my methods."

After saying that, he didn't explain further and walked directly to a row of mahogany bookshelves against the wall.

The bookshelf was filled with precious ancient books and rare editions, as well as several pieces of Song Dynasty porcelain, each of which would be a priceless national treasure.

Lou Bancheng and his family of three stared at him blankly, wondering what he was going to do.

Jiang Chen stood in front of the bookshelf, his back to the crowd. He slowly raised his right hand, palm facing the overflowing bookshelf, and silently recited in his heart:

"System, collect."

The next second, a scene that the three members of the Lou family would never forget happened.

There was no sound, and no sign whatsoever.

The instant Jiang Chen's hand swept across the shelves, the once lush bookshelf seemed to have been swallowed whole by an unseen beast. Hundreds of books, heavy vases, even the dust on the shelves vanished into thin air in that instant!

All that remained were bare walls, which looked particularly glaring under the lights.

"what!"

Lou's mother screamed in fright, and the rolling pin in her hand clattered to the ground.

Lou Bancheng's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He rubbed them hard, thinking he was hallucinating from old age. But the wall was definitely empty!

"This...this is..."

Lou Xiao'e covered her mouth, staring in horror at Jiang Chen's tall, straight back, her mind completely blank. This was entirely beyond her comprehension. Was it magic? Or sorcery?

Jiang Chen did not stop.

He turned and walked to the pile of suitcases, waving his hand again.

"Whoosh!"

Seven or eight heavy leather trunks, along with the gold and jewels inside, vanished without a trace once again in full view of everyone.

The air was deathly still.

Only the thunder outside the window continued to rumble, as if providing accompaniment to this miraculous scene.

Jiang Chen turned around, looking at the three people who were already terrified, his expression still calm as if what he had just done was a trivial matter. He waved his hand again.

"Bang bang bang!"

The seven or eight suitcases reappeared out of nowhere without warning, in the exact same spot, even matching the exact marks left by the carpet.

"This...this..."

Lou Bancheng's legs went weak, and he could no longer support his body weight, collapsing to his knees with a "thud".

He had lived most of his life, witnessed warlord conflicts, foreigners swaggering about, and all sorts of extraordinary people. But he had never seen anything like this! How could a human possibly do this? This was clearly the legendary "Five Ghosts Moving Things," the "Universe Within a Sleeve," the work of a god!

No wonder... no wonder he dared to say that he was the only one in all of Beijing who could save the Lou family.

No wonder he dared to barge in alone and try to take all the family's assets.

In the face of such a "superhuman", the so-called informants, the police force, and even the handguns are simply laughable!

"God...a god...this is a living god!"

Lou's mother was so frightened that she trembled all over and pulled Lou Xiao'e to kneel down, muttering incantations as if she were worshipping a Bodhisattva.

Lou Xiao'e stared blankly at Jiang Chen.

At this moment, Jiang Chen was no longer the cold-faced section chief in her eyes, but an unapproachable being shrouded in mystery. That powerful, transcendent sense of strength brought her an unparalleled shock and... a sense of security in her despair.

[Ding! Extreme shock and awe detected.]

[Source: Lou Zhenhua, Lou Tanshi, Lou Xiao'e.]

[Emotional value conversion in progress... Trading points +500.]

As the system notification sounded in his mind, Jiang Chen felt a surge of satisfaction, but maintained an inscrutable and aloof demeanor.

This is exactly the effect he wanted.

Simple military intimidation can only instill fear, but this kind of "miracle" that transcends cognition can inspire awe and submission from the depths of one's soul. Only in this way will the Lou family completely abandon any thoughts of betrayal and willingly become his vassals.

Jiang Chen looked down at Lou Bancheng, who was kneeling on the ground, his eyes indifferent, like a god looking down at an ant.

"Now, we don't need to worry about how to transport it, right?"

Lou Bancheng shook his head frantically, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, barely daring to speak loudly: "No...no worries! With your miraculous skills, sir, the Lou family...the Lou family is saved!"

His way of addressing Jiang Chen had changed from "Section Chief Jiang" to the extremely respectful "Mr."

Get up.

Jiang Chen didn't help him up, but coldly ordered, "Take me to the basement. Don't make me say it twice."

"Yes! Yes! I'll lead the way right away!"

Lou Bancheng scrambled to his feet, ignoring the pain in his knees, and hunched over as he led the way, his cautious manner suggesting that even a second's delay would anger this "living deity" who possessed supernatural powers.