Chapter 96: Got Scammed?

"Yingying, don't be impatient, speak slowly, what exactly happened?"

Jiang Feng first confirmed that Yingying was not in any trouble, and he silently breathed a sigh of relief, then began to ask about the ins and outs of the matter.

"I just saw a humanoid He Shou Wu in a shop, picked it up to take a look, and suddenly someone from behind bumped me!"

Hua Yingying's voice was tinged with crying, clearly terrified.

"The He Shou Wu fell to the ground and shattered, and those few people gathered around, saying it was a hundred‑year‑old humanoid He Shou Wu and demanding I pay five hundred thousand! But I looked at the cross‑section, the color was off, it must be false! They're just trying to swindle me!"

"False? What the hell are you babbling about!"

A coarse, gruff male voice suddenly burst from the earpiece, brimming with unabashed arrogance.

"These are the medicinal herbs from my Jiang Clan pharmacy; when have there ever been counterfeit goods? This is a legitimate hundred‑year‑old humanoid He Shou Wu, just appraised by an expert, worth at least five hundred thousand! You little girl, breaking something and refusing to pay? If you don't pay today, don't even think about walking away!"

"It's not me! You guys bumped me!"

Hua Yingying's voice carried a grievance in her rebuttal, and soon the sound of a struggle was heard.

"Let go of me! Don't touch me! My brother is coming right now!"

"In this medicinal herb market, no one dares to challenge me!"

The man's laugh grew even more arrogant.

"Don't even say your brother; even if your father came, you'd still have to pay obediently! But you look pretty good, why not join me? The five hundred thousand will be taken as my betrothal gift to you, what do you say?"

"You bastard! Move aside!"

Hua Yingying's crying grew louder.

Jiang Feng's complexion turned completely grim.

He said into his phone in a low voice, "Yingying, protect yourself first, I'm on my way!"

After hanging up, he turned to the Shopkeeper and said.

"I'll settle the payment for the medicinal herbs now; please help watch over them for a while. I'm going to handle something and will return to collect the herbs."

"Hey! Sir, wait!"

The Shopkeeper quickly blocked him, his face full of worry.

"Your friend was stopped at the Jiang Clan pharmacy in West Alley, right?"

Jiang Feng was startled for a moment: "Shopkeeper, do you know them?"

"More than just knowing!"

The Shopkeeper sighed and lowered his voice.

"That man is named Jiang San, a notorious troublemaker in this medicinal herb market! It's said he's somewhat related to the Li Family who control the market, and he's been running roughshod in this area, specifically targeting outsiders and students, using counterfeit medicinal herbs to stage scams. A few disgruntled ones before were beaten up by his hired thugs, and in the end they had to meekly pay up!"

He paused, then said with some sympathy.

"Sir, you look familiar, so let me give you a word of advice... Jiang San's background isn't simple; if you go head‑on with him, you'll likely lose out! How about I help you appeal to the market administration, so even if you have to pay, you can reduce the amount. Don't clash with him directly!"

Jiang Feng felt grateful for the Shopkeeper's warning, yet still shook his head.

"Thank you for your kindness, but my sister has been wronged; I can't let her be bullied for nothing."

After speaking, he took out his phone, scanned to pay one million for the medicinal herbs, reminded the other to look after the herbs, and turned to leave Gu Yao Zhai.

A worker watching Jiang Feng's hurried departure couldn't help shaking his head.

"Shopkeeper, this youngster probably doesn't know how dangerous Jiang San is; could something happen?"

The Shopkeeper watched Jiang Feng's departing figure, his eyes carrying a hint of complexity.

"Hard to say... but from his look just now, he doesn't seem like someone who fears trouble; maybe he has some confidence. Let's not interfere; just keep an eye on the herbs."

"Got it, Shopkeeper!"

…

The small alley on the west side of the medicinal herb market was much quieter than the main street, flanked by small medicine shops and warehouses.

Occasionally a worker hauling herbs passed by; seeing a crowd around the Jiang Clan pharmacy entrance, they instinctively walked around, unwilling to stare.

At the Jiang Clan pharmacy entrance, Hua Yingying was surrounded by three men, her eyes bloodshot, clutching her phone tightly, her shoulders trembling slightly from anger and fear.

Opposite her stood a man with a crew cut, about thirty years old.

A thick gold chain hung around his neck, several gold rings adorned his fingers, his face full of flesh, it was Jiang San.

Jiang San held the shattered He Shou Wu, his face bearing a greasy smile, reaching out to touch Hua Yingying's face.

"Little girl, stop crying, join me and I'll guarantee you a life of feasting and spice! Five hundred thousand is nothing; I don't lack that money, I just like you!"

"Don't touch me!"

Hua Yingying jerked her head aside to dodge, her gaze full of disgust.

"Your He Shou Wu is fake! My grandfather is Dr. Hua of Ji Shi Tang; I grew up learning herbs with him. You clearly used ordinary He Shou Wu dyed to look old! Trying to swindle me for five hundred thousand, you're just trying to stage a scam!"

"Oh? So you're Old Hua's granddaughter and you know a bit about herbs?"

Jiang San raised an eyebrow, his smile turning even more mocking.

"But my He Shou Wu comes with an appraisal certificate!"

He shouted into the pharmacy.

"Second son! Bring out the appraisal certificate so this little girl can see what a genuine hundred‑year‑old He Shou Wu looks like!"

A worker hurried out, holding a laminated sheet, and handed it to Hua Yingying.

"Look carefully! This is a verification certificate stamped with the official seal! If you dare say it's fake again, do you believe we'll sue you for defamation?"

Hua Yingying looked at the seal on the certificate and felt a little uneasy.

"You definitely forged it!"

"Forged?"

Jiang San seemed to hear the biggest joke, burst into a hearty laugh, then glared viciously at Hua Yingying.

"Little girl, I advise you to be sensible: either pay up or join me, don't force me to make a scene!"

He paused, his Tone turned ruthless.

"If you don't cooperate, I'm going to call the City Defense Office right now, say you deliberately damaged valuable Medicine and smeared the merchant! Then not only will you go to prison, your grandfather's Ji Shi Tang will also have its Reputation swept away!"

Hua Yingying's complexion instantly turned pale.

She isn't afraid of being wronged herself, but she fears implicating her grandfather and Ji Shi Tang.

Her grandfather has devoted his life's heart and blood to Ji Shi Tang; if her Reputation is damaged because of this, how could she repay her grandfather?

Just as she was about to collapse, a familiar voice Suddenly came from outside the Crowd, carrying a chilling cold.

"Is that so? I want to see how you make her go to prison, how you make Ji Shi Tang's Reputation swept away!"

The others followed the voice and looked; Jiang Feng hurriedly stepped through the Crowd, walked to Hua Yingying's side, and reached out to shield her behind him.

His gaze was sharp as a blade, fixed intently on Jiang San.

Jiang San only felt as if a beast had fixed its eyes on him, and couldn't help but shiver.

"Brother Jiang Feng!"

Hua Yingying saw Jiang Feng, Tears instantly welled up, and she, feeling aggrieved, clutched his arm.

"They are framing me, and they even claim the He Shou Wu is Hundred years old, demanding I pay five hundred thousand, and they want me to …"

"I understand."

Jiang Feng gently patted her hand, signaling her not to be afraid, then turned his gaze toward Jiang San, his eyes full of mockery.

"Boss Jiang, using False Medicine to frame a student, your business is not very respectable."

"You kid, what the hell are you saying!"

Jiang San viciously swung his big hand: "Brothers! This damn thing is here to cause trouble, deal with them for me!"

As soon as the words fell, four or five hulking men who had been itching to act immediately rushed toward Jiang Feng.

"Brother Jiang Feng, be careful!"

Hua Yingying shouted anxiously.