Cao Jingjian indeed did not go back on his word and gave Chen Ergou a dagger, nicknamed the Alaskan harpoon, which was unadorned but exuded an unparalleled sharpness and vigor, completely abandoning any elements of elegance or beauty. Chen Ergou loved it so much that he couldn't bear to put it down. What surprised him even more was that Cao Jingjian not only gave him this straight-handled knife, but also conjured up more than two catties of tobacco as if by magic, causing Chen Ergou to involuntarily slap the table and exclaim in admiration. He took a pinch and sniffed it, although it wasn't as pungent as Qingwa's tobacco, it had a unique flavor and was good tobacco.

  Cao Jing smiled and said, "This is a special bamboo pipe from Houxia, the local tobacco farmers told me that this tobacco is prone to pests when grown in fertile soil, so it must be planted in barren land or fallow fields. In addition to tobacco, Houxia's knives are also famous, I saw in history books that the Qing dynasty's troops stationed in Yunnan had their sabers made in Houxia, unfortunately, I didn't have time to look for a Jingpo knife that can cut through iron like mud, so I didn't buy one. Instead, I got this Alaskan harpoon, are you satisfied?"

  "Satisfied, this Alaska harpoon gun looks comfortable to hold and has a good feel when fired. The tobacco is also top-notch." Chen Ergou exclaimed excitedly.

  Cao Jing smiled silently, looking at Chen Ergou's treasured appearance, feeling satisfied and not regretting her long run to the southwest border where the wind blows and the sun shines.

  "Hey, want me to show you a trick?" Chen Ergou said with a mischievous grin.

  Cao Jing nodded slightly, without refusing Chen Ergou's use of the relatively intimate and ambiguous term "Jing", this was a small step, yet also seemed like a big one.

  Chen Ergou placed his palm on the table, spreading his five fingers apart, while holding the knife handle tightly with his other hand. The Alaska harpoon was inserted randomly between his fingers. If he wasn't careful, he might cut off a finger or pierce his palm. Cao Jingjian watched in shock and awe. After Chen Ergou put away the harpoon, he chuckled proudly: "I just learned this from Chen Qingzhi. Wang Hu said that using this trick on young women in bars can make them swoon."

  "Give it back to me." Cao Jingjing glared with wide eyes. Obviously dissatisfied with Chen Ergou's last sentence.

  "Once in the mouth, never spit out."

  Chen Ergou Lai Pidao, seeing Cao Jing's displeased expression, quickly changed the subject and asked a question he had been wanting to ask for a long time: "As a child of a red cadre, do you know if there are any incredibly powerful families in China now? I mean, mysterious, huge, and terrifyingly energetic aristocratic families. I've always been curious about the Taiyuan Chen family behind Chen Qing's back and their arch-nemesis, the Luoyang Li family - what kind of family are they? Can they be considered nobility?"

  "Noble?"

  "No. The saying that it takes three generations to make a noble family is actually from Shakespeare, and one night can create an overnight sensation. It takes three generations to cultivate a noble family. If we simply understand it literally, then there are many families in China who have been rich for more than three generations. Even many of them have withstood the impact of the ten-year Cultural Revolution. The ones that have been exposed to the highest rate of media attention are similar to the Shanghai Rong family. But personally, I don't think that's a traditional noble family. China has always been a country where one can rise from being a commoner to becoming an emperor overnight. Except for the peak of the aristocratic system during the Two Jins, there has always been the saying that 'the virtues of a gentleman are cut off after five generations.' As for what you said about the Chen family of Taiyuan and the Li family of Luoyang, those are very narrow-minded views. However, if we really count them, they are all families that have lasted for five generations and over a hundred years. It's not surprising that you know about them. It's just that it's no longer possible for one family to simultaneously produce high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, and literary giants like in the past. Now their descendants mostly keep a low profile and are practical. Some of them live mediocre lives without achieving anything, while others take advantage of their status to bully people. Occasionally, there will be one or two outstanding successors. You're just unlucky to have encountered Zhao Kunpeng's arrogant side. Actually, from another perspective, Zhao Kunpeng might not be a bad young man after all. In any case, it's not me speaking ill of others, but the series of misfortunes that befell you might not necessarily be a fortune that ordinary people can't enjoy."

  "I understand. Heaven will entrust a great responsibility to this person." Chen Ergou grinned foolishly.

  "Really know how to comfort oneself." Cao Jing said with a smile.

  "Self-consolation?" Chen Ergou suddenly had a strange smile on his face.

  Cao Jing's words are confusing and unclear. I don't understand what's wrong with this statement.

  Chen Ergou lowered his head and played with the Alaskan harpoon, 10 seconds later Cao Jingjian realized that removing the middle two words from "self-comfort" had a dirty meaning. Before she could get angry, Wang Hu ran up the stairs and rushed in, saying in a low voice: "Ergou, Guo Qietu has come to our door."

  "How many votes?" Chen Ergou asked calmly.

  "Just one." Wang Hu said with a frown.

  "Where is he now?" Chen Ergou was stunned for a moment, who was the real mastermind behind the Hongmen Banquet? In his opinion, Guo Jue's actions seemed reckless, but once he took on a task, he would complete it flawlessly. For example, whether or not beheading Qiao Baizhang was wise, he had perfectly played the role of a ruthless and cunning, yet extremely calm and meticulous psychopath in this shocking case that shook Nanjing. This kind of person may not play with power struggles like Fang Jie, but one-on-one, Chen Ergou didn't have much confidence and couldn't be too careful in his response.

  "Just sit in the lobby downstairs." Wang Hu said coldly, he had a strong urge to kill Guo Qietu and silence him, Guo Qietu was Fang Jie's right-hand man, almost all of the Wei family's shady dealings relied on Guo Qietu to take care of them, if Guo Qietu died, Chen Ergou would have no chance of getting ahead.

  Chen Ergou arrived at the hall, and Guo Jue was sitting on a chair, calm and peaceful, not looking like he would fight Chen Ergou to the death with just one word. He didn't look like the first fierce warrior of the Wei family who had clashed with Qian Zixun in front of Fang Cai either. Chen Ergou said something that made Cao Jing nod secretly, "Tiger, bring a bottle of wine and let Xiang Yu prepare some dishes to go with it."

  "It's my treat to buy you a drink." Guo Daxi, who was extremely stingy and had a smiling face, revealed a subtle smile, "And I thought you would directly let Xiao Ye Wang Hu and Bai Ma Tan Hua Chen Qingzi take me down."

  "I'll deal with you after we finish this drink." Chen Ergou said with a smile.

  Wang Hu Sheng took two bottles of white wine, Chen Xiang Yu also quickly cooked several exquisite small dishes. Chen Er Gou and Guo Kuai sat facing each other, Cao Jing Jie and Wang Hu Sheng sat opposite each other, the four people at one table. Cao Jing Jie poured a cup of wine for each of the three men on the table, and finally poured one for herself. Chen Er Gou waited until everything was ready, raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp, saying: "This cup is to thank Master Wei."

  Cao Jing poured him a second cup, which was again gulped down by Chen Ergou in one mouthful as he raised his head and said: "This cup is for you. If it weren't for you looking out for me back then, I'd still be just a security guard wandering aimlessly around the same old places at Shanshui Huamen."

  He downed the third cup in one gulp, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and said magnanimously: "I've owed this toast to you for a long time, Aunt Fang. Although I have grievances in my heart, I know what gratitude is due and what resentment is deserved. In these six months, everything I've done has been without regret. If you wanted Ge Liu dead or if you wanted me to sacrifice myself for the safety of the Wei family, I wouldn't say a word. But if you're here today to persuade me to leave Nanjing, let me tell you frankly: no way."

  "I have nothing to say."

  Kuai Ge cut off bluntly, and only drank wine. The two of them went back and forth, each drinking half a bottle after which Kuai Ge gazed at Chen Er Gou, "Originally I had been thinking about your relationship with Wei Ye, I just wanted one of your hands and would have let you out of Nanjing, but since you've made up your mind to go against Fang Jie, I couldn't bear to see her suffer, so I can only owe you one."

  "Can you get out of this house?" Chen Ergou asked with a smile.

  "I dare to come, of course, it's not to send myself to death. If you don't mind me taking the six of you down with me, go ahead and make a move. I guarantee I won't fight back today." Guo Qie said, shaking his head.

  "Can it only end in one of us dying?" Chen Ergou asked, unwilling to give up.

  "Unless you leave Nanjing, it won't be a hindrance." Guo Qianru nodded.