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

The wilderness outside the warehouse was deathly silent, with only the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the withered grass.

Although Lou Xiao'e was wrapped in a heavy military overcoat, her body was still trembling slightly. It was a physiological tremor after experiencing the ups and downs of the day—from the fear of having her home ransacked, to the relief of escaping death, and then to the tension of being moved in the middle of the night, her nerves had been stretched to the limit.

Only now, in this desolate yet safe corner, has the taut string finally shown a slight sign of loosening.

"Have something hot to drink."

A long, strong hand reached out to her, holding a freshly opened can of steaming coffee.

Lou Xiao'e paused for a moment, then took the can of coffee. The warmth from the metal can instantly flowed from her fingertips into her cold body. She lowered her head and took a small sip. The rich aroma and just the right amount of sweetness exploded in her mouth. It was a taste she had never had before, even more mellow than the coffee her family bought from the Friendship Store.

"Thank you..." Her voice was a little hoarse, with a slight nasal tone.

Jiang Chen didn't look at her, still gazing into the distance at the darkness, the cigarette between his fingers burning in the wind, leaving a long trail of ash: "No need to thank me. This is just a transaction; your father paid for it."

"Is it really just a transaction?"

Lou Xiao'e suddenly raised her head, her usually innocent eyes now filled with tears, staring intently at Jiang Chen's profile. "If it was just a transaction, why did you offend Xu Damao for us? Why did you take such a huge risk to personally escort us out? Do you know that if you were discovered, you would ruin your future!"

An emotional outburst can happen in an instant.

All the grievances, fears, and anger of the day erupted at this moment.

"You know what? When Xu Damao stormed into my house with his men, I was truly desperate," Lou Xiao'e said, sobbing, large tears dripping into the coffee can. "That man... I slept with him for so many years, washed his clothes, cooked for him, tolerated his philandering, even tolerated his infertility and helped him hide it... And what did he do? He actually tried to tie me up! He wanted to torture me to death!"

"If it weren't for you... if it weren't for that shot..."

As Lou Xiao'e spoke, her body trembled violently, and some of her coffee spilled from her hand.

Jiang Chen turned his head and looked at the woman in front of him, her face streaked with tears. In this era, she was actually an anomaly—educated, had studied abroad, possessed the spoiled air of a young lady, yet also the forbearance of a traditional woman. She should have been a rose nurtured in a greenhouse, but instead, she was planted on a pile of cow dung like Xu Damao.

He sighed, reached out and took the coffee can from her hand, placed it on the hood of the car, and then gently patted her back.

This was just a reassuring gesture.

But for Lou Xiao'e, who was drowning at that moment, this was the only piece of driftwood.

Almost instinctively, she threw herself into Jiang Chen's arms, wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, buried her face in his uniform which smelled faintly of tobacco and had a cold, aloof air, and burst into tears.

"Jiang Chen... I'm scared... I'm so scared..."

Jiang Chen's body stiffened slightly, but he didn't push her away. He could feel the softness and trembling of the body in his arms, and he could also feel that complete and unreserved dependence.

It's a strange feeling. It's a byproduct of power and strength—the worship of deities by the weak.

"Don't be afraid." Jiang Chen's voice was deep and magnetic, and the vibration of his chest was transmitted to Lou Xiao'e through the contact. "With me here, Xu Damao can't touch you, and no one can touch you."

These words were like a shot of adrenaline, or a spark that instantly ignited a long-suppressed emotion.

Lou Xiao'e raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears as she looked at Jiang Chen. In the moonlight, the man's face was sharply defined, his eyes so deep they made one want to drown in them. At this moment, he was her savior, the only light in her dark world.

A psychological mechanism called the "suspension bridge effect," a mixture of gratitude for surviving a desperate situation and an instinctive dependence on the strong, overturned all the traditional moral education she had received since childhood.

"Will you always protect me?" she murmured, her eyes unfocused, filled with a sacrificial devotion.

Jiang Chen looked down at her, a half-smile playing on his lips, and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingers: "That depends on whether you listen to me or not."

This action was highly aggressive.

Lou Xiao'e seemed to be bewitched; she tiptoed and clumsily but passionately kissed those cool, thin lips.

The string of reason snapped completely.

Jiang Chen wasn't a saint; he wouldn't refuse a free lunch. Moreover, this wasn't just about satisfying his desires; it was the final step in solidifying this alliance. Submission of body and soul is often more powerful than a bond of mutual benefit.

He grabbed Lou Xiao'e's head with his other hand, deepening the kiss, and opened the truck door with his other hand.

"Come up."

This is not a request, it is a command.

Lou Xiao'e followed him into the narrow but private driver's cab without any hesitation.

That night, the wind howled through the wilderness, and the truck's shock absorbers creaked softly and rhythmically. On this isolated island, at a turning point in the lives of two generations, a drama of redemption and conquest quietly unfolded.

After an unknown amount of time, the wind stopped.

Lou Xiao'e curled up in the passenger seat, draped in Jiang Chen's uniform jacket. Her cheeks were still flushed, but her eyes were calmer than ever before. She looked at Jiang Chen, who was adjusting his collar, and there was something in her eyes called "belonging".

She knew that from this moment on, she was no longer Xu Damao's wife, but Jiang Chen's woman.

"I should go." Jiang Chen fastened his top button and resumed his cold and aloof demeanor, as if the man who had been frantically demanding just moments before was not him.

"Mmm." Lou Xiao'e nodded obediently, without pestering or acting coquettishly. She was a smart woman and knew that someone like Jiang Chen didn't like trouble.

"Stay here without worry, there are plenty of supplies. I'll come pick you up when the time is right." Jiang Chen opened the car door and jumped out, glancing back at him. "Remember, you are my bargaining chip, and you are my person. As long as you don't betray me, I can guarantee you a lifetime of wealth and honor."

"I would rather die than betray you." Lou Xiao'e's voice was soft, but unusually firm.

Jiang Chen smiled, said nothing more, started the truck, and turned it around.

Looking in the rearview mirror, he saw Lou Xiao'e standing at the intersection wrapped in a coat, like a statue waiting for her husband, until the taillights of the car completely disappeared into the darkness.

Jiang Chen touched his lips, which still seemed to retain the woman's warmth. He silently reviewed the gains and losses of the evening in his mind—the Lou family connection was now completely secured; not only had he obtained the initial funding, but he had also gained a devoted agent.

"The land of gentle pleasures is a graveyard for heroes, but it also certainly allows people to relax."

Jiang Chen chuckled self-deprecatingly, his eyes regaining their clarity and sharpness, and floored the accelerator.

"Now, it's time to go back and clean up the mess."

"That mad dog Xu Damao should be put on a leash."