But today, he had come to stir up trouble, without the usual reservations.

With a cold laugh, George Harris said, “Little Edward, look carefully, it’s three hundred strings of cash.

Even if you scrape together everything in your house, I doubt you could come up with that much. Not to mention two months—even if I gave you another two, you still couldn’t pay. Since I’m in a good mood, I’ll show you a way out… This house of yours is worth some money, even if it’s old and shabby. I could make do with it. Or, you could hand over your butcher shop on Ma Xing Street, and I’ll forgive a hundred strings of your debt. Isn’t that generous?”

“Don’t even think about it!”

Nancy finally couldn’t hold back and shouted loudly.

But George Harris didn’t care at all, grinning cheekily, “Sister Julia, why are you making a fuss?

Paying back debts is only right and proper. Little Edward owes me money, so he must pay me back… Besides, when men are talking, what place is there for a woman to butt in? Heh, I heard you don’t even want to marry Little Ethan… Judging by your brows, you’re clearly still a maiden. I wonder if it’s because Little Ethan can’t do it, or you’re unwilling… Heh heh, you could use this chance to separate from Ethan, shouldn’t you be thanking me?”

There’s a big difference between a young girl and a married woman.

Someone like George Harris, a scoundrel, could tell at a glance that Nancy Johnson was still a virgin.

Nancy Johnson’s face instantly turned deathly pale.

And Edward Brooks’s expression also became extremely grim.

Even if everyone knows about such things, you can’t say it to someone’s face—otherwise, it’s a huge humiliation.

Suddenly, Nancy let out a sharp cry and darted toward George Harris.

A large hand grabbed Nancy’s arm tightly. She swung her arm back, landing a solid slap on Edward Brooks’s chest.

Nancy had practiced martial arts since childhood, inheriting the true skills of Thomas Johnson.

That slap carried a hint of internal force. Edward Brooks took the blow head-on, his body swaying, but he still held tightly to Nancy’s arm.

“Sister Julia, don’t be impulsive. Don’t dirty your hands.”

As he spoke, blood trickled from his mouth and nose, startling Nancy Johnson.

“Little Ethan, I didn’t mean to…”

Edward Brooks forced a relaxed smile, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

“Sammy Harris is right. You married me, so you’re my wife.

Now that I’m talking to someone else, what right do you have to interrupt? Go back to your room at once, or I won’t be so polite.”

From childhood, Edward Brooks had always treated Nancy with courtesy.

Now, his sudden harsh rebuke startled Nancy. There was an authority in his words that she found hard to resist. After Edward Brooks finished speaking, Nancy didn’t even know how to respond.

Edward Brooks pulled Nancy behind him, shielding her with his body.

“Sammy Harris, you’re getting more and more shameless.

My marital affairs are none of your damn business, yet you act like a petty villain here, trying to sow discord?

Nancy is a good woman, and I have nothing. Her marrying into the Yu family is a blessing I earned over several lifetimes. Now that she’s entered my family, she’s one of us. If you dare speak rudely again, I’ll tear you apart, even if I’m exiled three thousand miles for it. Don’t believe me? Try it.”

Edward Brooks was brave and fierce, but outwardly looked rather frail, with a hint of a scholar’s air.

Now, in his anger, he was like a lion ready to devour someone.

George Harris was so frightened he stumbled back several steps, his legs going weak, nearly collapsing to the ground.

“I owe you money, and I’ll pay you back myself.

In two months, even if I have to sell everything I own, I won’t short you a single coin. But if you dare come to my house causing trouble again, don’t blame me for being rude. Push me too far, and I’ll make sure you can’t set foot in Kaifeng Prefecture.”

George Harris had already lost face and was furious with shame.

“Two months—how will you pay?

Little Edward, it’s not that I look down on you, I just don’t believe you. What if you run off when the time comes? What am I supposed to do then?”

“So what do you want?”

“Heh, it’s not like I’m forcing you.

Here’s an IOU. As long as you sign it, if you can’t pay in two months, your butcher shop on Ma Xing Street will be collateral. If that’s not enough, I’ll take this ancestral house for two hundred strings.”

Edward Brooks sneered, “Sammy Harris, you’re quite the schemer.

This house of mine would fetch five hundred strings on the market, and you want to take it for two hundred? My butcher shop on Ma Xing Street is worth two or three hundred, but in your mouth, it’s only worth a hundred? Not only will I not sign your IOU, even if you offered a fair price, I wouldn’t sell to a filthy scoundrel like you…”

“You…”

George Harris was furious.

But thinking of Edward Brooks’s formidable fighting skills, and the woman behind him—who looked delicate but had the heart of a tiger—Nancy, he didn’t dare make a move.

“If you won’t sign, then find a guarantor.

Hmph, I’m worried you won’t be able to come up with the money and will run off with your wife. I don’t have time to chase you down.”

Find a guarantor?

That was a bit troublesome.

But Edward Brooks knew that if he didn’t get his way, George Harris would never let it go.

With that IOU in his hand, if things went to Kaifeng Prefecture, they’d probably seize his butcher shop as collateral. But if the shop was seized, how would he make a living to pay the debt?