Chapter 55: Meiniang

Cheng Feng had already asked for Wang Tieshan's opinion regarding the tavern matter.

Naturally, Cheng Feng was also prepared to adopt his master's suggestion.

From Cheng Feng's perspective,

it was just selling some wine;

I provide the finished product, you handle the sales,

and we split the money earned.

It's a win-win for everyone, right?

But from the perspective of Wang Tieshan, who stood at a higher vantage point,

wine that appeared suddenly and represented the potential for massive profit

would disrupt the market

and incite disputes within the wine trade.

After all, this was no longer the rule-of-law society of his past life.

Here, gangs ran rampant and hidden rules prevailed.

The profits had long since been carved up.

If a fellow with no background wanted to come and take a share of this pie,

wouldn't the existing taverns lose customers and lose the silver that should have gone into their own pockets?

In that case, wouldn't it be better to just snatch your wine recipe?

Wouldn't it be better for us to split the profits ourselves?

The limitations of Cheng Feng's thinking lay right here.

Cheng Feng was not yet so naive as to do a bad deed while intending a good one.

After realizing the complexity of the matter,

the potential consequences were not something Cheng Feng's small frame could withstand.

Wang Tieshan's words allowed Cheng Feng to see through the rules beneath the surface of this world more clearly.

No matter the industry, power and connections are of vital importance.

Without support from behind, it is very difficult to gain a foothold in a fiercely competitive market.

Wang Tieshan had a bit of interest in Cheng Feng's wine,

and for the sake of his Closed-door Disciple,

he expressed a willingness to provide the necessary support and protection.

The prerequisite was that Shopkeeper Meiniang had to have a deeper relationship with Cheng Feng.

Otherwise, there was no need to discuss it further.

The main business of Tieshan Martial Arts Hall was not in taverns.

There was no need to step forward for a small business that he didn't think much of.

Otherwise, the prestige of Tieshan Martial Arts Hall would be worth too little.

Fortunately, Cheng Feng's focus was on practicing martial arts.

The earning of money was also to better serve his martial pursuits.

Through this incident,

Cheng Feng understood his own level even better.

He was indeed still a bit green right now.

Beneath the calm water,

no one knew what behemoths were lurking.

To Cheng Feng, who came from a village, power was too ethereal.

Only the Martial Dao was the sole means to protect himself and his family.

This made Cheng Feng even more urgent about the Blood Refining Realm.

He returned home and ate.

Seeing that the time was still early,

he took Lian Niang to Room Two to exercise a bit.

Naturally, he gained Fortune Point +1.

Watching the sun and calculating the time,

Cheng Feng appeared at the street corner again.

The pedestrians by the roadside were also gradually returning home.

But the person Cheng Feng was waiting for had not yet arrived.

Cheng Feng was not anxious in his heart.

With the technique in hand,

at worst he would suffer a small loss.

Selling the wine alone might be a bit more troublesome, but he could still earn some silver.

It had no major impact on Cheng Feng.

The time was about right.

Seeing that Meiniang still hadn't come,

Cheng Feng stopped waiting.

Even though he had some small expectations.

But since the other party failed to be punctual first,

Cheng Feng naturally would not continue waiting, lest he lower his own status for nothing.

Just as Cheng Feng was about to be completely swallowed by the shadows of the street corner,

a sweet cry came from behind: "Cheng Feng, I'm here! Cheng Feng, Cheng Feng!"

Cheng Feng heard someone calling him.

He turned his head to look.

A beauty with a sweet appearance, a graceful figure, and a heavenly face came running over while calling out.

The light gauze around her body blew and fluttered, like a wisp of purple mist pulled across the horizon at dusk.

Looking at this beauty who had run to his side,

Cheng Feng asked in surprise: "Are you... Meiniang?"

Meiniang was very pleased to see Cheng Feng's reaction; it was worth the half-day she had spent dressing herself up.

She said haughtily: "What else? It was just a simple bit of dressing up; surely it's not like yesterday, where I couldn't catch your eye!"

Looking at this beautiful woman, Cheng Feng's heart was indeed stirred.

If he could really take her into his home,

that would be a fine thing.

Regarding women, Cheng Feng would not indulge them like those simps from his past life.

Having transmigrated here, the bitterness he had eaten, the exhaustion he had endured, the risks he had taken, and the life he had gambled,

along with everything he had seen, heard, and thought about around him,

had already caused Cheng Feng to undergo a earth-shaking transformation from the inside out.

This allowed Cheng Feng to better integrate into the environment and live well.

With beauty before him, Cheng Feng also praised: "Naturally, it is better than how you looked yesterday. I truly didn't expect that you would be this beautiful when restored to your original appearance."

Hearing Cheng Feng's praise, Meiniang was also happy in her heart.

However, dressing up like this was also for her own purpose: "Then what did your master say about that?"

Cheng Feng had no need to lie to this beauty.

He told her the whole story and Wang Tieshan's suggestion completely.

Meiniang frowned upon hearing it.

Marry him first, only then can I trade for the Martial Arts Hall's support?

There was nothing to say about the profit-sharing.

The Martial Arts Hall Master could agree to that only because of Cheng Feng's face.

But I have to be an Equal Wife, not a Principal Wife!

Meiniang's heart was in a chaotic whirl, and the expression on her face shifted.

Cheng Feng could understand her mood.

But this matter could only be handled this way.

Nothing was set in stone yet, so this was all he could help with.

He vaguely remembered some young men in his past life.

They spent a lot of money for girls they met online,

only for the girls to find an excuse to break up.

In the end, they were left with neither the person nor the money.

This was a scam; young people, lacking defenses, could only suffer and learn to grow.

At the time, Cheng Feng was greatly shocked and naturally took it as a warning.

Meiniang was indeed beautiful.

But she was still a bit lacking to be Cheng Feng's Principal Wife.

After becoming Wang Tieshan's Closed-door Disciple,

his status and position were already completely different.

Wang Tieshan himself even had some ideas,

which he hadn't yet had the chance to tell Cheng Feng.

Regarding Cheng Feng, this Inner Sect Disciple,

this Closed-door Disciple who had hopes of inheriting his mantle,

Wang Tieshan only wanted Cheng Feng to take fewer detours.

On the paths of power, wealth, and martial arts,

taking a wife was also a means to strengthen oneself.

How could he not scout around for his own Closed-door Disciple?

But the current Cheng Feng was only thinking about selling wine to earn money.

Earning money is for supporting a family, after all.

Cai'er was already more than four months pregnant.

Cuier and Xiaohua had just reached two months.

In five months at most, Cheng Feng's first child would be born in the Great Zhou.

We can't be discussing how to earn money when that time comes, right?

Cheng Feng liked to make preparations in advance.

That way, he would have spare energy for whatever happened and wouldn't need to be in a rush.

The status of an Equal Wife is also an exchange made for the sake of benefits.

If it were in his past life, Cheng Feng would have already become the person he despised.

Regarding so-called benefit-exchange marriages, Cheng Feng would definitely have turned up his nose, and added a loser's remark: shit, feelings mixed with benefits like this are not love.

But now, having experienced it and grown, Cheng Feng can only say sorry to the younger, commoner Cheng Feng of the past.

At that time, his status and level were lower, he didn't see things very clearly, and he only cared about his own feelings.

Now, looking back, he discovers that this is also a kind of life experience.

If there is a free meal to be had, that is also a shortcut.

Benefit exchanges among the wealthy will make them live better.

And not the messy, sentimental love found in instant-noodle dramas.

That is all fake.

This is all what the beatings of society have taught Cheng Feng.

Even now, Cheng Feng's first thought is still to make money first.

Marrying a beauty like Meiniang is just a bonus.

Look, have you learned it yet?

A person of value will have people coming to their door wherever they are.

Cheng Feng just covets Meiniang's body.

This is also the only condition for wanting to accomplish Meiniang's affairs.

It just depends on what Meiniang and Shopkeeper Mei think.

If they are unwilling,

Cheng Feng has no loss.

If they agree,

Then Cheng Feng not only makes money but also has a beauty in his arms.

Meiniang also won't have any negative impact; by agreeing to the conditions at the time, she also preserves her own family.

Everyone is happy.

Watching Meiniang still pondering, Cheng Feng is not in a hurry.

"You go back and think about it carefully first, it is best to discuss it thoroughly with your father; I have no problems on my end."

Meiniang rolls her eyes in her heart.

"You certainly have no problems, you get both the person and the wealth, what else could you want?"

Yet she agrees verbally: "That is natural, then I will come over in a few days to tell you; I wonder if your residence is here?"

Cheng Feng nods and says: "I do indeed live here."

Meiniang wants to go see Cheng Feng's home: "I wonder if it is convenient to go take a look now?"

Cheng Feng naturally has no objections; in this regard, Cheng Feng has always been honest,

Not to mention that Meiniang might still be his first Equal Wife.

Cheng Feng will give Meiniang full power of choice.

Great Zhou has both marriage and divorce.

Cheng Feng asks himself about his own abilities; he can live well wherever he goes.

Cheng Feng has long passed the age of listening to love.

What is said is not important.

What is done is what is important.

If Meiniang treats him well, Cheng Feng will naturally treat her as his wife.

If she is prepared to borrow a chicken to lay eggs,

Then he is sorry,

The landlord's family has no surplus grain either.

Before the dagger is revealed from the map,

Meiniang will still have everything she is supposed to have.

Cheng Feng's former friend was a romantic fool.

As a result, everything went wrong after marriage.

Cheng Feng does not hold any special hope for this.

But the consciousness of women in Great Zhou is definitely much better than those green-tea bitches from his past life.

This is something created by the social environment.

In an era where one cannot eat their fill or keep warm,

Who would think so much about those trivial things?

What is solid and in one's hands

Is what is truly one's own.

Cheng Feng did not notice that he was slowly shedding the impetuousness of his past life.

He has become much more grounded.

Even if he realized it, Cheng Feng would feel it is a good thing.

When you are in a survival crisis,

Staying alive

Is your only goal.

Beauties, fine wine, delicious food, and so on—everything else can be ignored.