Chapter 171: Task Complete, Reward Received!
Xu Li and Jiang Bing looked at Jiang Tao with immense surprise.
Were her husband and second brother so awesome?
In a 1-on-3 situation, he still managed to win overwhelmingly!
Looking at the scene, those who knew would understand they were fighting due to a conflict.
Those who didn’t know would think the group were professional stunt performers from a legit action movie crew!
This is… so cool!
Jiang Tao also felt that his moves just now were a bit cool.
“System-level Freestyle Combat…”
“This thing is quite effective for fighting!”
Jiang Tao’s series of fluid and smooth actions just now didn’t even go through his brain.
It was like a muscle reflex.
Coupled with his pre-borrowed 10 points of Physique, his Physique reached 73 points.
His Physique far surpassed the two guys who looked strong but only had a Physique of 30-something points, those weaklings.
The absolute dominance in skill, combined with the absolute dominance in Physique, resulted in the instant-kill effect just now.
“Hiss…”
“Ouch…”
After Wang Tianheng and the other two got up from the ground, their eyes turned to Jiang Tao with fear.
They had run into a tough opponent!
Ultimately, Wang Tianheng and the other two were the type to bully the weak and fear the strong.
Their ferocity and arrogance at the beginning were based on having more people and assuming absolute superiority.
Now, after a real confrontation, they suddenly realized the advantage was no longer with them.
Wang Tianheng and his companions naturally became a bit timid.
“This kid is definitely not an ordinary person. He probably trained in the military, and not just any regular soldier.”
Wang Tianheng looked at Jiang Tao doubtfully, various possibilities flashing through his mind.
It wasn’t that he was overthinking; the events of just now were too unbelievable!
This was reality, not some action movie or martial arts film!
One person had taken down their three men in less than ten seconds.
Could this kid be a retired “soldier king” from some military unit?
Jiang Tao’s extraordinary combat power made Wang Tianheng feel apprehensive.
Driving a million-dollar Mercedes-Benz GLS indicated considerable wealth, and he was also very capable in a fight…
After being thrown with a shoulder throw, Wang Tianheng’s mind didn’t go blank; instead, it became much clearer.
“This person is definitely not ordinary!”
With this thought, Wang Tianheng’s arrogant demeanor vanished instantly.
He began to re-examine the situation today.
Would escalating this matter bring him any benefits? The answer was no.
Moreover, he was the one who made the first move, so even if it went to court, he wouldn’t be in the right.
Wang Tianheng’s two buddies were also acting based on his lead.
Seeing Wang Tianheng suddenly deflate and fall silent, the two brothers didn’t want to be cannon fodder and get beaten up again.
They were no match, completely no match!
After the recent exchange, the two brothers had a rough understanding of Jiang Tao’s formidable combat power.
Even if they tried again, they wouldn’t have the slightest chance of winning and would still end up getting beaten.
The tense scene of confrontation, punches, and kicks suddenly quieted down.
“Make way, make way.”
As everyone stood in silent confrontation, a police car stopped by the roadside, and two uniformed police officers alighted.
One had to admit that as the capital, Beijing had much stronger police presence than a small county town.
It had been at most 10 minutes from the car accident to the conflict, and police arrived on the scene without anyone calling for help.
The two police officers took a quick glance at the scene and understood what had happened.
They handled such situations all too often; it was no longer new to them.
It was not uncommon for emotions to run high after a car accident, leading to fights over minor disagreements.
After questioning both parties and learning the cause and progression of the conflict, the two officers looked at Jiang Tao with some surprise.
Wang Tianheng and his two companions were all disheveled, and one was even bleeding profusely from the nose from being kicked.
Jiang Tao, a man with two young women, was completely unharmed, with no dust or wrinkles on his clothes.
This combat ability was a bit exaggerated!
Even a well-trained soldier wouldn’t be confident of taking down three muscular men without injury.
Since both sides had engaged in fighting, it was considered mutual combat. The penalty was a slap on the wrist for everyone, and they were given a verbal warning and education.
Pursuing the matter further would only lead to legal proceedings and lawsuits, causing trouble for everyone with no benefits for anyone.
Jiang Tao and Wang Tianheng and his two companions ultimately accepted the police officers’ verbal mediation, and the matter came to a close.
The accident investigation unit and insurance representatives also arrived soon after.
After determining responsibility, a tow truck took both vehicles away for damage assessment and repair.
The rest was up to the insurance company.
Jiang Tao’s car was fully insured, with third-party liability coverage as high as 5 million.
Even if the other party’s E300 was totaled, it would be enough to cover the damages.
After the accident was resolved, Wang Tianheng and his two companions took a taxi and left.
Jiang Tao, Xu Li, and Jiang Bing got into the parked BAIC EU5 and turned the car around, heading into the residential area.
【Congratulations on completing the Special Mission 『Protector of Sisters』! 】
【Congratulations on obtaining 10 Physique （Pre-borrowed）, 10 Charm Value, 1 million Cash, and System-level Freestyle Combat! （Pre-borrowed）】
As soon as Jiang Tao started the car, a line of sapphire-blue text appeared on the windshield of the BAIC EU5.
At the same time, his mobile phone vibrated with a buzz.
It was probably the cash reward arriving!
The pre-borrowed Physique reward and System-level Freestyle Combat had also arrived.
Jiang Tao couldn’t feel the increase of the remaining 10 Charm Value at all.
Overall, the difficulty of the 【Protector of Sisters』 mission wasn’t high, but the rewards were quite generous.
Misfortune is where fortune leans.
This time, he had indeed benefited from misfortune thanks to Third Sister!
“Honey! You were so cool when you taught those three jerks a lesson! When did you secretly learn martial arts!”
In the front passenger seat of the BAIC EU5, Xu Li’s excited voice interrupted Jiang Tao’s thoughts.
At this moment, her gaze towards Jiang Tao was filled with adoration, like a fangirl.
For some reason, she suddenly felt her husband had become even more handsome, more charismatic!
“Yeah, Second Brother! You’re amazing, with just a few moves like that, you took them all down!”
On the back seat, Jiang Bing gestured animatedly, imitating Jiang Tao’s fighting moves, her eyes full of excitement.
“There’s a lot you don’t know.”
“During my years in the capital, I also trained in boxing and kicking with my master in my spare time. I didn’t expect it to come in handy today.”
Jiang Tao shamelessly used Old Sun as a shield again.
Since Old Sun was no longer around, whatever he said was the final word, and no one could go to Old Sun to verify.
“Master Sun… Master Sun knows kung fu? I couldn’t tell at all.”
Although Xu Li was a bit surprised by Jiang Tao’s explanation, she didn’t doubt its authenticity at all.
The facts spoke louder than words!
Jiang Tao’s impressive performance of 1 vs. 3 was deeply imprinted in her mind.
Her husband was simply incredibly handsome and cool!
Xu Li looked at Jiang Tao with eyes as clear as water, utterly infatuated with him.
“Then, is Second Brother more skilled, or is Master Sun more skilled?”
In the back seat, Jiang Bing looked at her second brother with admiration, suddenly feeling that her second brother seemed even more handsome than before?
It would be hard for her to find a man as handsome and as loving to his wife as her second brother in this lifetime!
Jiang Tao chuckled, “I’ve only been practicing for four or five years; I’m just at the beginner level.”
“My master started practicing martial arts at three and has trained for over sixty years, his skills are divine.”
“Fighting ten people might be an exaggeration, but against those lily-livered muscle men, he could take on six or seven alone.”
“Wow! Master Sun is that amazing!”
“So there really are masters in this world! Today has truly opened my eyes and broadened my horizons!”
Xu Li and Jiang Bing were stunned by Jiang Tao’s explanation and didn’t suspect him of lying through his teeth.
After all, Jiang Tao easily taking down Wang Tianheng and the other two was an undeniable fact.
With the combat power he displayed, even three more wouldn’t be his match.
Creak~
The BAIC EU5 soon arrived downstairs, and the three got out of the car and walked towards the building entrance.
Taking the elevator upstairs, they returned home around 8 p.m.
Jiang Tao merely told his parents that he had wasted a bit of time dealing with the accident.
He made no mention of the conflict with Wang Tianheng and his companions.
Mentioning such things would only make his parents worry, so there was no need for them to know.
Seeing the three return safely, Jiang Dad and Jiang Mom’s hearts, which had been in their throats, finally settled back down.
Jiang Bing inevitably received another lecture from her mother, who gave her a lesson on traffic safety.
After a small interlude, the barbecue for the evening officially began.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~
Beef rolls and shrimp covered the grill pan, and the aroma of meat began to fill the room.
The beef rolls Xu Li bought online looked to be of decent quality.
After the beef rolls were grilled to a slightly golden-brown state, she first served a piece to Jiang Xue, then dipped it in the homemade barbecue sauce Jiang Tao brought back.
Although the barbecue sauce contained a little chili, it wasn’t too spicy, so Jiang Xue could eat it.
“Wow! So delicious, Dad’s barbecue sauce tastes amazing!”
After tasting the grilled meat, Jiang Xue clapped her little hands excitedly and grinned at Jiang Tao, giving him a thumbs-up.
“Is it really that delicious? Let me try too!”
Jiang Bing, with quick hands, promptly grabbed another grilled beef roll, dipped it in the sauce bowl in front of her, and then stuffed the whole thing into her mouth.
“Mmm-hmm! Delicious, really delicious! Second Sister-in-law, Mom, Sister Nan, you should all try it! It’s so good!”
Faced with the temptation of delicious food, Jiang Bing didn’t care about her image at all.
While chewing the beef, she repeatedly praised Jiang Tao with a thumbs-up.
Her mother glared at her third daughter, saying speechlessly:
“You naughty girl, there are guests here, and you don’t serve them first; you eat faster than anyone.”
Jiang Bing retorted, “Does Sister Nan count as a guest? She’s one of us! Why be so formal~”
“Haha, Auntie, Xiao Bing is right, please don’t treat me as a guest; we’re all family.”
Du Ennan smiled and nodded. When she came to Jiang Tao’s house for meals, she never treated herself as a guest.
“Nannan, you try some too.”
Xu Li smiled and served a piece of beef, grilled to a slightly golden-brown on both sides, onto the plate in front of Du Ennan.
“Mmm, let me try!”
Du Ennan said as she picked up the beef, dipped it in the barbecue sauce, and took a small bite.
“It tastes really good! It’s more fragrant and has a more distinct flavor profile than Tian Wei’s Black Ox Barbecue Sauce.”
Du Ennan praised the taste of the Delicious Barbecue Sauce highly after taking a bite of beef, giving it a very positive evaluation.
“Not bad, not bad, the taste is really good.”
“Mom, I want more, more! Dip more sauce, this sauce is delicious!”
“Son, did you really come up with this? This barbecue sauce tastes amazing!”
After trying Jiang Tao’s homemade barbecue sauce, everyone gave it unanimous praise, finding no fault with it.
“Jiang Tao, you’re incredible. You really came up with this in one afternoon?”
Du Ennan looked at Jiang Tao with surprise, finding the matter unbelievable.
After just buying the recipe, he improved it in just a few hours?
If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, Du Ennan would never have believed something so absurd.
But the facts were before her, and she had no choice but to believe.
Although the two barbecue sauces looked similar, and one might not even notice the difference at first glance.
However, there were subtle differences.
Jiang Tao’s homemade barbecue sauce had a more intense aroma compared to Black Ox Barbecue’s.
It also excelled in balancing savory, sweet, and umami flavors, with a rich and layered texture.
If one had to choose between the two blindfolded, the vast majority would pick Jiang Tao’s homemade barbecue sauce!
“I just had a sudden inspiration while researching the recipe and made a few small changes and additions. I didn’t expect it to be so successful.”
“Luck played a significant role in this success.”
Jiang Tao’s explanation didn’t arouse any suspicion from the others.
Du Ennan smiled, “Sometimes, luck is also a part of strength, and it can even be the deciding factor!”
“Mmm-hmm! Nannan is right! Good luck is also a kind of strength!”
As Xu Li spoke, her gaze drifted to the “Lucky Stone” she wore on her chest.
Could this luck also be related to it?
Ever since she got the two Lucky Stones, everything at home had been prosperous, with one good thing after another.
After finishing the barbecue dipped in sauce, Du Ennan looked at Jiang Tao and asked:
“Jiang Tao, did you buy this barbecue sauce from Tian Wei to open a barbecue restaurant, or to make condiments?”
Hearing Du Ennan’s question, Jiang Dad and Jiang Mom’s eyes lit up, and they looked at their son with anticipation.
Opening a barbecue restaurant had been their unfulfilled wish for decades.
Compared to pickling and selling Eight Treasure Pickles every day, they preferred managing a barbecue restaurant.
Jiang Tao smiled, “I think we can learn from Haidilao; we can run our own barbecue restaurant while selling barbecue sauce. The two will complement each other.”
“That’s a good idea, and your improved barbecue sauce tastes excellent. It will surely capture a large market in the future.”
“If you ever need my help in the future, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Du Ennan smiled at Jiang Tao, her attitude sincere as she extended her goodwill.
She now truly considered Jiang Tao and Xu Li as friends and was willing to offer any help she could at the beginning of their entrepreneurship.
“Don’t worry, if I need your help, I won’t be polite.”
Jiang Tao didn’t stand on ceremony with Du Ennan, his in-law, and agreed with a smile.
Everyone ate and chatted, enjoying the food while sharing the joys of their lives, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
The barbecue meal lasted from after 9 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Ring ring—
As Du Ennan put down her chopsticks and chatted with Xu Li, her phone rang.
She took out her phone and saw the caller ID was “Driver Old Wu.”
“Hello, Master Wu.”
“Okay, please wait, we’ll be down shortly.”
“Mm-hmm, bye-bye.”
After answering the call and speaking briefly with the driver, Du Ennan hung up and looked at Jiang Tao.
She hadn’t forgotten that Jiang Tao had promised to help her with her insomnia this afternoon.
Ever since her husband passed away, Du Ennan hadn’t had a good night’s sleep, plagued by insomnia every day.
Although she didn’t hold much hope for Jiang Tao, she still wanted to try.
What if it actually worked, even a little bit?
“Huh? Ennan, why are you staring at me like that? My wife will get jealous.”
Jiang Tao saw Du Ennan’s gaze and made a small joke, feigning ignorance.
“Hahaha, I won’t get jealous of Nannan. Looking won’t hurt, as long as you don’t touch.”
Xu Li laughed heartily and hugged Jiang Tao’s arm, acting magnanimous.
“I’m speechless with both of you!”
Du Ennan rolled her eyes at the couple, completely exasperated.
One of them was narcissistic, and the other was obsessively devoted to her man; truly a couple.
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Let’s go; I guarantee you’ll sleep soundly tonight.”
Jiang Tao said as he stood up from the sofa, preparing to go downstairs with Du Ennan.
“Mom and Dad, Xiao Bing, you guys take Xiao Xue to sleep first. Husband and I are going to Nannan’s place and will be back later.”
“Go slowly on the road, be careful.”
“Mm-hmm, don’t worry, we’ll be fine, you guys go to sleep.”
“Uncle Jiang, Aunt Tian, goodbye. Thank you for tonight’s reception; sorry to have troubled you.”
“No trouble at all, no trouble at all. If you want to eat anything in the future, just call us, and Uncle and Aunt will cook it for you.”
“Mm-hmm! Goodbye, Uncle and Aunt.”
After saying goodbye to Jiang Dad and Jiang Mom, Du Ennan, along with Jiang Tao and Xu Li, took the elevator downstairs.
Downstairs.
A brightly lit Mercedes-Benz Maybach was like a beast quietly waiting in the darkness for its prey.
To the front right of the car stood a bald middle-aged man in a black suit and white shirt.
“Good evening, Miss. Good evening, Mr. Jiang and Ms. Xu.”
Driver Old Wu respectfully greeted the approaching trio and then stepped back to open the rear door for them.
“Thank you, Master Wu.”
Du Ennan smiled and greeted Old Wu, then she and Xu Li bent down and sat in the back seat.
Jiang Tao opened the door himself and sat in the front passenger seat.
After they were all in the car, Old Wu also got in, started the engine, and drove towards Du Ennan’s villa.
It took about 1 hour.
The Maybach stopped at a parking space outside a three-story luxurious detached villa in Maoyuan Jingxi Villa Area.
Jiang Tao and Xu Li entered the villa’s small courtyard with Du Ennan.
Passing through the courtyard, the three entered the villa.
As soon as they entered, Xu Li said, “Nannan, you go wash up. Don’t bother with us; we’ll wait for you here.”
“Mm, then make yourselves at home. I’ll go wash up.”
Du Ennan didn’t treat Jiang Tao and Xu Li as outsiders; after telling them, she went upstairs to wash up.
After about half an hour, Du Ennan finished washing up and called Jiang Tao to tell him she was back in her bedroom.
“Go ahead, honey, I’ll wait for you here.”
Xu Li felt a slight pang of discomfort thinking about Jiang Tao being alone in a room with Du Ennan.
However, she magnanimously chose to let him go alone, choosing to trust him.
When Jiang Tao activates 『Sleep Mode』 for others, there cannot be any other observers present, so he couldn’t bring Xu Li along.
“It’ll be quick, wait for me 10 minutes.”
Jiang Tao smiled, ruffled Xu Li’s head, turned, and walked towards the villa’s staircase, ascending to the second floor.
Reaching the door of Du Ennan’s room on the second floor, Jiang Tao knocked.
“Come in, Jiang Tao.”
Hearing Du Ennan’s voice from inside, Jiang Tao pushed the door open and closed it gently.
The main light in the room was off, with only a small ketiiy-shaped night light on the dressing table emitting a warm orange glow.
Du Ennan was currently sitting on the bed, a quilt covered with a light pink duvet cover on her legs.
The moment she saw Jiang Tao push the door open, Du Ennan’s heart suddenly beat a little faster.
Although her conscience was clear, being alone in a room with her best friend’s man late at night created a somewhat ambiguous atmosphere.
“Ahem, Jiang Tao, you’re here.”
Du Ennan cleared her throat and took the initiative to greet Jiang Tao.
Jiang Tao smiled, “Don’t be nervous; I won’t eat you.”
“Tch, aren’t you afraid Lily will eat you?”
Du Ennan felt more relaxed after Jiang Tao’s playful remark.
“Alright, now listen to my instructions. Lie down on the pillow, cover yourself with the quilt, and close your eyes.”
Jiang Tao didn’t waste any more time and got straight to the point.
“Oh, okay.”
Du Ennan followed Jiang Tao’s instructions, slowly lying on her side on the pillow, pulling the quilt up to her neck, and gently closing her eyes.
“Now, try to empty your mind, try not to think about anything.”
“Then, starting from your neck, relax slowly.”
“Relax your shoulders, relax your arms, and then relax all ten fingers.”
“Don’t interfere with your breathing; let your body breathe freely at its own rhythm.”
“Yes, that’s right. Then relax your stomach, your thighs, your calves, your toes…”
【Activate 『Sleep Mode』 for Du Ennan immediately for 66 yuan? 】
“Yes!”
While pretending to help Du Ennan fall asleep, Jiang Tao quietly spent 66 yuan to activate 『Sleep Mode』 for her.
Before Jiang Tao could finish his words.
Du Ennan’s breathing became steady and long.
The slightly tense expression on her face had softened, clearly indicating she had fallen asleep.
“Sleep well tonight.”
Jiang Tao observed Du Ennan for about a minute, confirmed she was asleep, and then turned towards the door.
He gently opened the door, stepped out, and then closed it softly before going downstairs to meet Xu Li.
“All done so quickly?”
Xu Li was slightly surprised to see Jiang Tao coming downstairs.
From the time Jiang Tao went upstairs to when he came down, it had only taken 6 minutes and 37 seconds!
