Chapter 205: So This Is a Simple Favor, Lesson Learned
No one cared whether Zhang Han lived or died.
Lin Xinghe and Hua Yao were even more satisfied with their son-in-law, Cheng Yuan.
The fact that Yuanxi had successfully navigated the appraisal incident was all thanks to Cheng Yuan.
Not only did the crisis not affect Yuanxi’s reputation, it actually caused its fame to instantly break past Luocheng, past Dongshan Province, and surge across the entire country!
The appraisal incident crisis shot to the top of the trending charts and stayed at number one for a whole month!
Of course, all of this came later.
Similarly, Zhang Zhigang’s reputation was restored, and his prestige even saw a huge boost!
Originally, only those in the antiques circle knew of Teacher Zhang Zhigang. Now, even people who weren’t into antiques could recite his famous quote: "We at Yuanxi will not let a single fake pass, nor will we misjudge a single treasure!"
After a night for things to settle, Cheng Yuan, Lin Ruoxi, and her family had calmed down.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Cheng Yuan announced his departure. "Ruoxi, there’s a medicinal herb exchange conference being held in Beijing. I have to go. Youchu needs some very rare herbs."
"Okay, honey. You should go. Please be careful on the road."
"I might not come back right after the conference ends. I need an Alchemy Furnace, and I might get some leads on one there. As for how many days it will take, we can stay in touch then."
"Okay."
Lin Ruoxi very gently adjusted Cheng Yuan’s collar.
After a reluctant farewell, Lin Ruoxi’s family left for work, while Cheng Yuan gathered the medicinal dregs he had accumulated over the past few days and headed straight for Villa No. 1.
With the support of the Medicinal Power from the dregs, Xiaozao’s strength increased again, and it finally broke through to the Divine Realm!
The defensive capabilities of Villa No. 1 were greatly strengthened!
Cheng Yuan found Cheng and instructed in a low voice, "My wife, Ruoxi, you know of her, right?"
"I know. Lin Ruoxi of the Lin Family, one of the two Golden Flowers of the Provincial City."
"I’m about to leave for Beijing. Xiaozao is here at Villa No. 1, so you go protect Ruoxi."
"Yes, Master!"
Having spent the last few days with Xiaozao, Cheng had been nourished daily by a massive amount of Earth Vein Qi. He had already reached the threshold of the Grandmaster realm, just one step away from breaking through.
Although he was a bit reluctant to leave Villa No. 1, he had to obey Cheng Yuan’s order.
After ensuring his family’s safety, Cheng Yuan went to regulate Shen Youchu’s body, then said goodbye to his mother and took a taxi to the airport.
This was Cheng Yuan’s first time on a plane, and he found it all quite novel.
After getting his boarding pass, Cheng Yuan smoothly passed through security and took the airport’s internal subway to the waiting area.
After waiting for some time, it was finally time to board.
After a staff member checked his boarding pass, Cheng Yuan proceeded through the boarding gate.
In truth, with his current wealth, Cheng Yuan could have easily bought a business class ticket, but he wasn’t particular about such things.
Whether it was business or economy, both would get him to Beijing. Why waste the extra money?
"Sir, welcome aboard Dongshan Airlines!"
Greeted warmly by the flight attendant, Cheng Yuan walked into the cabin.
Since it was a domestic flight, the plane wasn’t very large. Cheng Yuan looked around with interest and felt it wasn’t much different from a luxury coach bus.
Cheng Yuan found his seat according to his boarding pass and plunked himself down.
Cheng Yuan was traveling light. Aside from his phone, ID, and bank card, he didn’t even have a bag, looking very relaxed.
The other passengers, however, were burdened with large and small bags.
Fortunately, there were overhead compartments on both sides above the seats for storing luggage.
Cheng Yuan was resting with his eyes closed when a somewhat familiar voice sounded in his ear. "Hey handsome, could you help me with my luggage? It’s too heavy, I can’t lift it."
Cheng Yuan subconsciously turned to look and couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
’Sister Shishi??’
’How could Sister Shishi be on the same flight as him?’
’Is it a coincidence?’
’Or is it...’
Cheng Yuan was a little displeased. With a cold expression, he said, "Sorry, I’m tired."
Hu Shishi’s looks were top-tier, and her figure was absolutely explosive. She was wearing relatively loose casual clothes, but they couldn’t conceal her perfect S-shaped curves at all.
Nearly everyone turned to look at her.
The moment Hu Shishi stepped into the cabin, she attracted a sea of eyeballs!
Nearly every man’s gaze fell upon her, unable to look away, as they prayed incessantly in their hearts, ’The goddess has to sit next to me!’
Seeing Hu Shishi stop in front of Cheng Yuan, these men showed looks of disappointment, their hearts filled with envy, jealousy, and hate toward him. ’This kid’s luck is just too good!’
When they heard Cheng Yuan unhesitatingly refuse Hu Shishi’s request for help, these male passengers were simply speechless. ’Does this kid have any idea how to treat a beautiful woman?’
They keenly spotted an opportunity to curry favor with Hu Shishi!
A few middle-aged male passengers began to lecture Cheng Yuan.
"Young man, you have no class, do you?"
"It’s a simple favor. It’s not like helping this beautiful lady will cost you a piece of flesh!"
Cheng Yuan certainly wasn’t going to put up with their attitude. He snorted coldly and said, "If you want to suck up to a beautiful woman, that’s fine. Go ahead and help her yourselves! But don’t you dare drag me into it! Stop with the moral grandstanding! Helping is a courtesy, not helping is my right. You’d better get it straight—this is not my obligation!"
The crowd was rebuked into silence. A well-built young man snorted coldly and said, "You’re right, it’s certainly not your obligation. But I have to say, a person like you is destined to be alone forever!"
Cheng Yuan grinned, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. "Sorry, but I’m already married, and my wife is very gentle and beautiful."
After speaking, Cheng Yuan couldn’t be bothered to pay the young man any more attention.
In truth, Cheng Yuan had said that for Hu Shishi’s benefit, to make her understand that he was already married and that nothing was possible between them.
The young man nearly choked on his anger, and it took great willpower for him to suppress his rage. He turned his head and looked at Hu Shishi with an eager-to-please expression. "Miss, don’t bother with a classless guy like him. I can help you."
Hu Shishi gave a polite smile. "Thank you."
To show off his strength in front of Hu Shishi, the young man grabbed the massive suitcase with one hand.
Then, the young man’s expression changed. His face turned beet red from the strain!
The young man couldn’t understand it. How could this beautiful woman’s suitcase be so heavy?
In his mind, weren’t girls’ suitcases just filled with snacks and clothes?
PFFT. Cheng Yuan let out an unkind laugh. He had activated his Double Pupil long ago and seen that Hu Shishi’s suitcase was filled with several alloy weapons forged from tungsten steel.
Tungsten steel is a very dense metal, so it’s naturally quite heavy. Cheng Yuan made a rough estimate: the suitcase weighed at least three hundred pounds, maybe even four hundred.
An ordinary person really wouldn’t be able to lift it.
Even Hu Shishi would have to circulate her True Essence to lift the suitcase.
Cheng Yuan didn’t mock him, merely letting out a soft chuckle, but the young man was still overwhelmed with shame, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into and hide!
’How could I lose face in front of a beautiful woman?’
The young man didn’t dare to be overconfident again. He wrapped both arms around the suitcase and exerted all his strength. "Get! UP!!"
The young man must have worked out regularly. With a sudden burst of brute force, he actually managed to lift the suitcase!
However, the young man had clearly underestimated the suitcase’s weight.
He only managed to lift it to his knees before he started to buckle. To make matters worse, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his lower back!
He had clearly thrown out his back!
The intense pain instantly caused the young man to lose all his strength. The suitcase fell heavily onto the cabin floor with a dull THUD!
The entire cabin seemed to vibrate from the impact!
Everyone was stunned!
’What on earth does this beautiful woman have in her suitcase?’
’How could it be so heavy?’
Cheng Yuan gave the young man a faint glance. "So that’s what ’a simple favor’ is. I’ve learned something today."
Pfft!
Suppressed laughter erupted from all around. Everyone was a little relieved. Thank goodness they weren’t the ones who had stepped up just now, or they would have been the ones to lose face so spectacularly!