The shopkeeper saw that these little children were not only unafraid but also wanted to spar, which made him even angrier.
"Good, very good, you, you asked for it. Go, beat them, beat them hard!" the shopkeeper roared.
Upon hearing this, the burly men did not say a word and rushed towards Xiao Xi Tian.
This little girl had been the most talkative just now, so the burly men decided to start with her.
Seeing this, a cold glint flashed in Xiao Jin Heng's eyes, and he instructed Kong Xing Zhuo, "Just leave them alive!"
The implication was that Kong Xing Zhuo could teach these scoundrels a lesson as he pleased, as long as he didn't kill them.
"Alright!" Kong Xing Zhuo responded, stretching his legs and feet.
Unexpectedly, before he could make a move, he saw little Jie Kong concentrate his energy, and with a 'swish,' he leaped into the air. Then, with a 'bang bang bang,' he kicked the burly men down.
He specifically kicked the burly men in the nose. After a few kicks, everyone curled up on the ground, covering their noses and groaning in pain.
"Is that it? I haven't had enough fun yet!" little Jie Kong pouted.
Hmph, a bunch of shrimp soldiers and crab generals, not worth looking at.
"Oh, my... my nose bridge seems to be broken, it hurts so much!"
"Who... who is this little child, and why does she know martial arts?"
"Shopkeeper, you have to pay us medical expenses. If my nose becomes flat, I'll cut off your ear!"
"......"
The men grumbled and cursed, but even though they were unconvinced, they dared not do anything to little Jie Kong.
The shopkeeper was dumbfounded, his mouth agape as if it could fit an egg. "You, you, you... you deliberately came to cause trouble, didn't you?"
These three little children were simply devils.
"Is the shopkeeper still not handing over the money?" Xiao Xi Tian asked coldly.
The shopkeeper looked down at the Jin Ru Yi hidden beneath the counter, feeling his heart bleed.
He couldn't come up with four thousand taels of silver in one go. Even if he sold the shop, he couldn't raise that much money.
The only way out was to return the Jin Ru Yi to the little boy, but he was extremely reluctant.
Seeing that he was dawdling and not speaking, Kong Xing Zhuo rushed to the counter, grabbed the shopkeeper, and said, "You scoundrel, you want to taste what it's like to have your nose bridge broken too, don't you? Then I'll fulfill your wish..."
After saying that, Kong Xing Zhuo clenched his fist and swung it towards the shopkeeper's face.
A wave of intense fear washed over the shopkeeper, and he trembled. Just as his fist was about to make intimate contact with the shopkeeper's nose, he quickly shouted, "I, I, I'll give it, I'll give it, isn't that enough?"
It was so embarrassing. He was such a grown man, yet he was being taught a lesson by three little children.
If this got out, how could he continue to do business in the carriage market?
Xiao Xi Tian tilted her little head. "Four thousand taels of silver, not a single copper coin less!"
"Oh, my little ancestor, even if you sold me, I... I'm not worth four thousand taels of silver!" the shopkeeper lamented, utterly desperate.
Hearing this, Xiao Xi Tian furrowed her delicate brows. "You're worthless, why would I sell you? Since you can't come up with so much money, then return the Jin Ru Yi to my brother, and I won't buy that carriage anymore..."
She didn't really need a carriage in the first place; it was the little monk who insisted on buying it.
Besides, when they first arrived in the capital, Brother Jiang Tun had already prepared a carriage for her, but Xiao Xi Tian simply didn't like riding in it.
The shopkeeper no longer dared to argue. He obediently returned the Jin Ru Yi to little Jie Kong, bowed, and said, "Please keep the Ru Yi safe. I don't want the carriage anymore either. Consider it... consider it a gift to you. If you need a carriage in the future, you can come find me anytime!"
Xiao Xi Tian: "???"
Well, how did she inexplicably get a carriage for free?
Xiao Jin Heng glanced at the shopkeeper. "I will have the yamen watch you. If you dare to collude with bandits and horse thieves again in the future, I won't be so lenient..."
If merchants were all as dishonest as him, how could the Great Liang Kingdom develop?
The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly. "Young master, please rest assured, I, I won't dare again!"
Since the matter was resolved and they got a carriage for free, Xiao Xi Tian led Jie Kong and Xiao Jin Heng away.
Outside the Sweetheart Wine Shop.
Old Ma was leading two shop assistants to move tables out and brought out several large bowls, filling them with wine.
"Why hasn't shopkeeper Xi Tian arrived yet?" Old Ma looked towards the street.
The shop assistant smiled and said, "Steward Old Ma, let's begin..."
This mellow and fragrant wine was sure to sell well.
Old Ma sighed and was about to start shouting when he saw a luxurious carriage drive over.
A moment later, Xiao Xi Tian and little Jie Kong jumped down. Xiao Jin Heng had returned to his mansion midway.
"Uncle Old Ma, I'm here!" Xiao Xi Tian walked over with a smile.
Seeing this, Old Ma quickly led the shop assistants forward to bow. "Shopkeeper Xi Tian, you've finally arrived. These two shop assistants were borrowed from the young master's shop. You can instruct them if you need anything..."
Xiao Xi Tian hummed, "Okay, then let's begin!"
Old Ma, having worked with Chu Jiang Tun for a long time, was skilled at doing business.
Seeing the continuous stream of pedestrians on the street, he cleared his throat, put his hands on his hips, and shouted, "Come and see, come and see! Our shop has brewed a new batch of top-quality fruit wine. It's fragrant and delicious, and it won't make you dizzy. If young ladies and wives drink this wine, they will stay young forever and look years younger. Elderly people who drink this wine will be strong and healthy and never fall ill. Gentlemen and young men who drink this wine will have their spirits soar and never feel tired..."
As soon as he said this, a large crowd of pedestrians rushed to the table.
They stared at the wine in the bowls, all with curious expressions.
"Why is this wine so red? What is it brewed from?" a woman asked.
Xiao Xi Tian smiled sweetly. "It's brewed from grapes. Sister-in-law, please try this wine and tell me how it tastes. It's free..."
The woman hesitated for a moment before sheepishly picking up the wine bowl, becoming the first to try it.
She took just a small sip, and the sweet and fragrant taste spread throughout her mouth.
The unique taste of the wine surpassed that of strong white wine and other alcoholic beverages, making the woman, who had never tasted fruit wine before,'s eyes light up. She tilted her head back and drank the entire bowl.
"Ha, delicious, so delicious!" the woman exclaimed, wiping her mouth.
"Really?" others questioned.
"Yes, is it that good? Are you a plant?"
The woman snorted upon hearing this. "You'll know if you try it yourselves. Don't ask me!"
So, with a sense of trepidation, the others picked up their wine bowls one by one.