Chapter 8: Spirit Fish for Sale, Third Uncle?

"Chen, old brother, the older brother's words have already been spoken; what more do you want the older brother to say?" Shang Yingnian didn't dare to outright break face, dragging out the marriage date; when the time came, waiting for his daughter to finish her studies and return—who knows when that would be—then it would naturally be resolved.

Young people's matters should be left to time to decide; this way, many troubles and conflicts can be avoided.

Chen Yuan naturally understands Shang Yingnian's idea; this old fellow is really good at scheming, dragging along his son, the ones who will surely lose are the Chen Clan, and it has no effect on Shang Hongchen at all—this move is very sneaky.

"Hongchen, what do you think about your engagement with Chuyang?"

Shang Hongchen wanted to answer, first looking at her father Shang Yingnian, who shook his head.

Chen Yuan waved his hand and said: "No need to worry about your father's opinion; just say what you think. Uncle Chen is here today specifically to settle this matter. Dragging out your engagement with Chuyang isn't a solution—either it happens, or you split up; either way is better for everyone."

"Uncle Chen isn't some stubborn old fool; you two have no fate, and the uncle shouldn't force it."

Upon hearing that, Shang Hongchen stood up directly and said: "Uncle Chen, I want to break off the engagement."

Shang Yingnian's hand was pulling his daughter, but he couldn't hold her back; he knew his daughter was still impulsive.

He had been tricked.

Chen Yuan's smile grew wider: "Hongchen, do you know what effect breaking off the engagement would have on my Chen Clan?"

"In the future, Chuyang wanting to marry will be difficult."

Shang Hongchen nodded and said: "I naturally know that, but I am willing to make compensation."

She knew some words, once spoken, cannot be taken back; she would handle them. The warnings and reminders from her father before he arrived, she completely threw them behind her back, forgetting them entirely. Beside her, Shang Yingnian held his forehead, already collapsed; he never imagined his daughter could be so innocent and pure, believing such words. Chen Yuan, this old fellow, is not a kind person—he……is very difficult to deal with.

"Very good." Chen Yuan's face full of smiles: "Hongchen, then let's talk about compensation."

"Ah?"

"Ha?"

Now it was Shang Hongchen and Shang Yingnian's turn to be shocked.

Agreed?

It's agreed already—this is too fast, right?

Under normal circumstances, shouldn't one say "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—don't bully the young and poor"?

At the very least, one should utter some indignant words and then make a three‑year pact, later showing up to slap faces.

In the end, nothing happened; Chen Yuan's attitude left Shang Yingnian completely bewildered.

"Chen, old brother, breaking off the engagement isn't a small matter—do you really agree?"

Chen Yuan said: "How come? Uncle Shang, you don't want to break off the engagement?"

Shang Yingnian was dumbfounded.

He didn't know how to answer this question; it was truly beyond his expectation. He had thought that on this trip Chen Yuan would be furious, then point at him and scold, but the result—just this?

Had he known it would be like this, he should have spoken up earlier; there was no need to worry anxiously for so long.

He feared a clash with the Chen Clan; in some scenario, if the Shang Clan and Chen Clan fought, both would suffer losses, and if it came to a real fight, the victor would surely be the Chen Clan—the Chen Clan is not that simple.

Shang Hongchen was also dumbfounded—it's agreed already? This is too swift, right?

This is not the scene she imagined; she had imagined countless scenes, but never this one.

Chen Yuan's agreement means that Chuyang also didn't take a liking to her.

Wait, that person Chuyang didn't take a liking to her.

At this moment, Shang Hongchen's pupils widened—equivalent to saying she, too, had been dumped.

This……

How could she, proud and lofty, endure this?

"Uncle Chen, has Chuyang agreed to break off the engagement?"

Chen Yuan laughed and said: "Hongchen niece, wasn't it you who wanted to break off the engagement? Why—don't you want to break it off now?"

"Although my Chuyang is just an ordinary person, he still cares about face. Since you look down on him, Uncle can decide this matter and end it here—except that your Shang Clan needs to make compensation, treating it as a fee for Chuyang. Uncle Shang, you have no objection to this, right?"

Shang Yingnian nodded dully; coming to break off the engagement, if the other side doesn't hit us, that's already fine—paying a little compensation is still no problem.

"Fine, Chen, old brother, say what you need; as long as I can provide it, I can give it."

"Very good, Uncle Shang, straightforward."

The two reached an agreement, each letting out a sigh of relief.

They showed smiles, chatting and laughing with each other.

As for Shang Hongchen, she sat foolishly on the chair, her mind full of Chuyang's calm eyes.

From beginning to end, that man never took a liking to her.

She is, after all, the most famous beauty of Longshe Cheng; any man who sees her will……be bewitched by her.

And Chuyang, ……actually really agreed to break off the engagement.

"Chuyang, how could he?"

Shang Hongchen bit her lips; she doesn't understand, nor does she comprehend why this happened.

Clearly the Chen Clan agreed, yet she couldn't feel happy.

……

Longshe Shan.

One more man appeared.

A bearded man, sneaking up the mountain, looking around everywhere, touching everything—just like some thieves.

He walked up all the way, reached the summit, saw Chuyang, and hurriedly waved.

"Chuyang nephew, Uncle is here, over here—come quickly."

"Chuyang, why didn't you come to greet your third uncle?"

"Do you know how hard it is for your third uncle to come looking for you?"

Third Uncle Chen Shen, his biological son, doesn't resemble his father at all.

His personality and appearance, in every respect, are not like those of the dissolute third uncle; he has remained unmarried till now, always alone, giving an illusion of worldly clarity, but actually it's not that—he simply isn't willing to give up a forest for a single tree.

Third uncle, you're late.

Cough cough cough, my eyes were obscured by mundane flowers and grasses, for a moment I forgot the time, Chuyang, don't be angry.

While speaking jokingly, he placed his hand on Chen Chuyang's shoulder and gripped him tightly.

Chuyang, let me tell you, a top-notch beauty has come to the brothel outside; her fragrance is truly intoxicating, even third uncle doesn't want to leave.

If it weren't for remembering your affairs, Chuyang, third uncle would just want to keep lying in the brothel.

Chen Chuyang pushed third uncle away; his body reeked of rouge and powder.

It was strong, irritating.

Third uncle, don't go to such places; it's unsafe.

Don't worry, I, your third uncle, am a cultivator; I fear nothing.

……

The lecherous third uncle is truly formidable; Chen Chuyang admires him.

Someone who basically isn't at home, either drinking flower wine or lying on the road, being able to soberly come here is no easy feat.

Let me tell you, the women there are truly top-notch and full of flavor; if you want, third uncle can take you to try them out—I guarantee that after trying once, you won't be bewitched by Shang Hongchen's little girl.

What's so good about Shang Hongchen? She lacks everything; you're still young and don't know the appeal of a married woman.

Third uncle guarantees that after you try it, you'll definitely never forget that flavor, and you won't be heartbroken over Shang Hongchen's broken engagement.

Chen Chuyang had a black line across his head.

She called off the engagement?

Right, you didn't know? Third uncle Chen Shen chattered: "Before I went up the mountain, I saw them father and daughter come to the Chen Clan, talking with your father; I guess they came for the broken engagement, kid—it's not that third uncle is saying you, it's just a woman, not worth it; look at third uncle, how suave, there are plenty of beauties outside, why sacrifice an entire forest for one woman?"