Chapter 655 - 228: He Said, Trade Me for the Cargo on the Ship

Jie Jingchen was stunned for a moment, then said arrogantly, "It’s worthless. Even if it were priceless, the Qiao Family can afford the loss."

"Then why are you and Grandfather letting that German lead you by the nose?" Qin Mei had been at the top of the stairs for a while and had overheard some of their conversation.

Qin Mei’s words really hit a nerve. The German was making outrageous demands, and Jie Jingchen was already on edge. Her comment just made him more agitated.

"The things on that ship are for your little brother," Jie Jingchen’s voice was barely audible.

Qin Mei froze. ’Things for my little brother? What’s his identity?’ No wonder Jie Jingchen and Grandfather kept compromising with that German. Their concessions would only make the man more outrageous.

Qin Mei leaned closer to Jie Jingchen and asked in a low voice, "Is it important?"

"It’s a feint," Jie Jingchen replied under his breath.

Qin Mei smiled with understanding. ’The bigger the scene they make here, the safer things are over there.’ She let go of Jie Jingchen, took a step back, and asked loudly, "Jie Jingsi, what’s more important? Me, or the things on that ship?"

"You are, of course," Jie Jingchen answered just as loudly.

"Jie Jingsi, do you know what that German just said?" Qin Mei asked.

Jie Jingchen didn’t speak German. When the German had spoken earlier, Grandfather told Liu Translation to translate, but he hadn’t.

"He said he wants to trade me for the cargo on the ship." Qin Mei pointed to herself, the corners of her lips curling into a brilliant smile.

Jie Jingchen’s eyes darkened, and a vicious aura surged around him. His words were lethal. "He’s courting death."

Grandfather’s expression also turned ugly, his sharp gaze locking onto Liu Translation.

Cold sweat beaded on Liu Translation’s forehead. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped it away.

Bernhard was just a merchant, and so was the Qiao Family. But the Qiao Family’s position in Xiangjiang was unshakeable. The Governor’s Wife was Old Sir Qiao’s niece—the daughter of his full-blooded sister, not a half-sister. Besides, the Qiao Family had relocated from Huaxia, where they still held influence in one region.

Liu Translation didn’t know what maintained that sphere of influence, but he knew it could reach the highest levels of Xiangjiang’s society.

SLAM! Grandfather slammed the table and shot to his feet, seething with uncontrollable rage. "Get out."

"Mr. Bernhard, let’s go, quickly." Seeing the German hadn’t moved, Liu Translation was frantic. He moved forward to drag the man away, but the German shook his hand off. Liu Translation was on the verge of tears. "Bernhard, there’s a saying in Huaxia: ’To covet another man’s wife is like murdering his parents.’"

"This is Xiangjiang, not Huaxia." Bernhard was captivated by Qin Mei’s beauty. Banking on the fact that the Qiao family needed something from him, he decided not to make an outrageous demand for money—he just wanted the beauty before him.

"She’s a member of the Qiao family," Liu Translation reminded him.

"I like her," Bernhard said.

They were speaking in German, so Jie Jingchen and Grandfather naturally couldn’t understand. But from the look on Bernhard’s face, he wasn’t saying anything good.

Jie Jingchen’s amber eyes narrowed dangerously, his expression like the calm before a storm.

Liu Translation saw the cold glint flash in Jie Jingchen’s eyes, brimming with killing intent. He had heard the rumors about Jie Jingchen—a reckless man who acted ruthlessly. It was entirely possible he would finish both him and Bernhard off right here in the Qiao residence.

Bernhard had brought bodyguards, but they were stopped outside. If Jie Jingchen wanted to kill them, would he even give them a chance to cry for help?

"Jie Jingsi." A cunning smile played on Qin Mei’s lips as she grabbed Jie Jingchen’s arm. She said to the butler, "Butler, please see Liu Translation out."

"No need, we’ll see ourselves out." Liu Translation gave an awkward, placating smile and tried to pull Bernhard again, only to be shaken off once more. Liu Translation was practically hopping with anxiety. "Mr. Bernhard!"

"Liu Translation, you may leave. He cannot," Qin Mei said, looking at him with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"Butler." Jie Jingchen’s deep voice carried a gloomy, chilling aura, like a summons from the reapers of hell.

"Liu Translation, if you please." The butler stepped forward, his tone still polite, but with an underlying threat.

"First Young Master, Mr. Bernhard is a German Merchant! You have no right to detain him!" Liu Translation was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, especially since Mr. Bernhard still wore the look of a lecher.

’Truly,’ he thought, ’lust is a blade hanging over a man’s head.’

"So what if he’s a German Merchant? He’s in Xiangjiang, on Qiao Family territory, and he just attempted to assault me. With such blatant disrespect for the Qiao Family, forget detaining him—it would be perfectly reasonable for my husband to kill him on the spot." Qin Mei wouldn’t rest until she had said something utterly shocking.

Everyone was speechless.

"Meimei." Jie Jingchen knew Qin Mei wanted to stir things up, but he never expected her to use herself as bait. If this incident blew up, her reputation would be ruined.