Why did you provoke me?

The three of them settled down quietly in the small courtyard.

Jing San would contact Jia Chengping every day.

News of Jia Chengping's arrival came very quickly.

Chen Ming has returned home, and according to his description, the man named Liangzi has been found. But unfortunately, he has died in his own home.

However, his wife is still missing.

The top-level forces' investigations progressed very quickly. Previously, they hadn't found a breakthrough, but this time, with the target provided by Chen Ming, they quickly identified a specific force.

Niannian was sitting at the table writing something. Without even looking up, she asked directly, "Has that organization demanded a ransom?"

"No." Jing San stood by the window, looking outside.

"That's right, that force lost the person. If they demand a ransom without any proof and ultimately fail to hand over the person, they probably won't have an easy time either." Niannian put down her pen and looked at Jing San.

"Third Brother, is there anything else?"

"There's news of Jing Ancheng. He brought the people before his clan leader. I don't know what they talked about, but Jing Ancheng said they went to the Jing family's forbidden area. Jing Ancheng asked me to ask Teacher Yu if he can return?"

Yu Meng sat on the other side of the table, the lines in her hands opening and closing.

"Tell him to keep an eye on those two, but don't let him get involved," Yu Meng said softly.

Niannian looked up at Yu Meng across from her. "Fourth Sister, what are you worried about?"

"Sigh, I hope I'm just overthinking it."

"Can't I say?" Niannian tilted her head.

"It's not that I can't say it, it's that I don't know how to say it."

"Fourth Sister, how long are we going to stay here?"

"I don't know either. By the way, is the energy in your little gray straw still not fully processed? Take this opportunity to practice more."

"Okay, I'll practice my line drawing skills after I finish organizing these things."

The weather is lovely today; the sun shines through the window, casting shadows on the floor inside the house.

The three of them remained silent, each doing their own thing.

"Fourth Sister, can I go shopping? I'd like to buy some things for the family."

"Why not? We're not fugitives. But it's always better to be careful. I'm just worried that if their plans fail, they might target us."

"Let's go this afternoon and buy some for Aunt Qing and Xiao Hao too." Niannian closed her notebook. "After I finish my work, I want to go into seclusion for a few days tomorrow. I absorbed a lot of energy last time, and I haven't properly organized the other lines."

"Just keep that in mind. It seems like you can weave the remaining lines into something. Do you have a basic outline yet?"

"No, my head is a complete mess," Niannian shook her head. "Fourth Sister, do you think it's okay if I just weave those things directly into the little gray straw?"

"Your little gray straw is already shaped, how can you weave lines into it?" Yu Meng asked in surprise.

I want to give it a try.

"Then give it a try." Yu Mengke never objected to this. Many things are achieved by trying them out.

They went shopping in the afternoon and bought a lot of things. Niannian asked Yumeng with a smile, "Fourth Sister, do you think Mom will scold us at home if she receives another carload of stuff?"

"Is that even a question? Isn't it obvious? Even if you said you wanted to buy it, it probably wouldn't work this time." Yu Meng chuckled. "This reason isn't new anymore; I'm no longer her trump card."

"Hmph, let her scold me. Letting her get emotional sometimes might even revitalize her youthful energy."

Niannian strode forward, completely ignoring the insults directed at her.

"I wrote this down, and when I got home I told my mom, 'Let's see if she hits you.'"

Niannian suddenly turned her head, backed up to Yu Meng's side, and hugged her arm affectionately. "Fourth Sister, please don't. If Mom hears this, Eldest Sister and Sister Xiu won't let me off the hook."

"Fine, you don't have to say anything then, but all the things we bought this time will be charged to you," Yu Meng said with a smile.

"Fourth sister, dear fourth sister, this is outrageous! I'm your dear sister, how can a sister treat her like this?"

Yu Meng smiled but didn't reply.

……

The next day, Yu Meng and Niannian each found a room to seclude themselves.

Jing San didn't know why Yu Meng didn't leave. He spent his days sorting out news about Jing Ancheng and Jia Chengping.

Jing Ancheng is doing alright; sometimes we don't receive a single message all day.

Jia Chengping was different; all sorts of news came in a rapid and frequent manner.

He wrote down every piece of information he thought was useful.

The mysterious organization has made progress. It is said that they encountered problems with their research funding and wanted to raise some funds from the Chen family, but their subordinates misunderstood, which led to the misunderstanding.

Jing San sneered, "This is just fooling people!"

The Chen family refused mediation; the deed was done. Chen Ming was lucky to escape. What would have happened if he hadn't? Who can say for sure?

The outcome was dramatic: the Chen family demanded exorbitant compensation. They refused? They threatened to cut off all supplies to that faction.

At this moment, the Chen family revealed their ferocious claws: "If you don't give it to us, we'll cripple you!"

At this point, Jing San nodded, "That's more like it."

Strangely, all the major and minor powers in Kyoto supported him in doing so. This was rather puzzling, and Jing San didn't quite understand it.

Jia Chengping kindly explained, "What kind of place is Kyoto? It's where money and power are most concentrated. Every family has a few favorites, and every family has a carefully cultivated heir."

Once kidnapping and extortion shows signs of success, everyone will want to take this risky path, and the next generation's lineage may be cut off.

If you kidnap my people today, and I kidnap yours tomorrow, then every family will live in fear and trembling.

Finally, the conclusion was drawn: if this happened to you, and you give up on pursuing accountability today, then next time it's your turn, no one will stand up for you. This is the tacit understanding among these large families. It's also their unspoken rule: juniors can fight amongst themselves, but they can't resort to underhanded tactics like kidnapping and extortion.

Jing San felt that he had learned some social skills and etiquette.

Jing San messaged Jia Chengping, "Have you been recognized as his savior yet?"

"Sigh, the big shots are fighting, how could I dare to step forward? I've already arranged for someone else to help them."

Jing San laughed at him for lacking responsibility.

Jia Cheng remained calm and composed, saying, "I'm just a bystander; it's Third Brother who has to save the day."

He wasn't provoked by Jing San, and even turned the tables on her.

Jing San is honest only in front of Meng. How could he not retaliate when Jia Chengping provoked him like this?

"So, what do you think the Chen family would think if I leaked some information, saying that it seemed like someone from the Jia family was also present at the scene?"

Hearing him say this, Jia Chengping was puzzled. Aren't they family? How could he cheat people like this?

But he also possessed the arrogance of a powerful family: "My Jia family isn't someone anyone can manipulate."

Jing San scoffed, "Is the Jia family so great?"

Jia Chengping was furious. "Does Teacher Yu know about this?"

Jing San said nonchalantly, "Tell me, if we both speak at the same time, who will Teacher Yu believe?"