Chapter 197: Good Person

The cold wind was biting. Chen Ji stepped over the threshold of the back hall of Chenfu, striding away without looking back. After experiencing so many things, when Chen Ji looked at Chen Wenxiao again, he only felt that the other party was just a very small, very small problem, like a small stone on the road that could be kicked away when passing by, or not. But Chen Ji held grudges.

Outside the back hall of Chenfu, Chen Wenxiao was being held down by young servants on a long bench, but they hesitated to strike. Chen Liqin stood on the steps and said in a severe tone, "Hit him! Why aren't you hitting?"

The two young servants holding the whistle sticks glanced at each other, then secretly raised their eyes to look at Liang Shi. Chen Liqin followed their gazes to look at Liang Shi, then rushed forward himself, snatched a whistle stick, and fiercely hit Chen Wenxiao's buttocks, "What is 'Ren'?"

Chen Wenxiao could only wail in pain, how could he answer the question? Or perhaps, even if he wasn't being hit by the whistle stick, he still wouldn't be able to answer.

Beside him, Chen Wenzong said in a low voice, "The Master said, the nature of a mountain is Ren, and Ren grows all things. Simple and honest, broad-minded, sincere in treating others, willing to help others – this is Ren."

Chen Liqin hit him again, "What is 'Yi'?"

Chen Wenxiao wailed and cried, "Yi... loyal Yi to those above, benevolent Yi to those below!"

Chen Wenzong said on the side, "The Master said, a gentleman understands Yi, a petty person understands profit. Wealth and nobility without Yi are like floating clouds to me. Yi is conscience, it is morality."

Chen Liqin hit him again, "What is 'Li'?"

This Tongzhi of Luocheng usually worked on the river dike, and if there was a flood, he would carry mud bags himself. His skin was tanned black, and he had great strength in his hands. Chen Wenxiao was almost knocked unconscious by these three strikes, where could he still think about answering? "Mother, Mother save me..."

Before he could finish speaking, he heard Chen Wenzong say in a low voice, "If a father is compassionate, the son is filial; if an elder brother is friendly, the younger brother is respectful; if a ruler is benevolent, the minister is Yi. There is distinction between husband and wife, order between elder and younger, and trust between friends. Ethics is Li."

Chen Liqin's expression froze when he heard the five words "Father compassionate and son filial," then he struck down fiercely, no longer asking the remaining questions.

Chen Wenxiao lay on the long bench and wailed loudly, "Father, there is something strange about this matter! Chen Ji just returned, and Yun Yang and Jiao Tu just arrived at the door. It must be that he colluded with these two people."

Chen Liqin knew that Jiao Tu and Yun Yang had come this time to make demands on him. This was not something Chen Ji could interfere with, so it was naturally unrelated to Chen Ji.

He suddenly became angry, "You still dare to slander your own younger brother!"

Liang Shi looked at his fierce expression and quickly stepped forward, "Old Master..."

Chen Liqin said fiercely, "No one is allowed to plead for this beast today!"

Liang Shi was silent for two seconds, then quickly said, "Your concubine is not pleading for Wenxiao. Now your concubine knows that Wenxiao has made a huge mistake and wronged Chen Ji. Later, your concubine will definitely properly compensate him. Wenxiao, quickly admit your mistake to your father!"

Chen Wenxiao quickly cried and wailed, "Father, son knows his mistake! Son will never dare again!"

Chen Liqin's face eased slightly, and the whistle stick in his hand also slowed down somewhat. "Chen Ji lost his mother when he was young, which is already unfortunate. How can you, as an older brother, bear to treat him like this? Furthermore, in recent years, you have incurred huge debts from gambling and contracted bad habits. Before the imperial examination, I will punish you by confining you at home and not allowing you to go out alone to play!"

Liang Shi agreed, "Old Master, rest assured, your concubine will definitely strictly supervise Wenxiao and absolutely not allow him to step outside the mansion. Your concubine will be even more considerate towards Chen Ji, find him the best teacher, seek the best marriage for him, give him the best in food, clothing, and use, and his monthly allowance will be the same as Wenzong and Wenxiao."

Chen Liqin's face eased again, and the whistle stick in his hand was raised in the air, finally no longer falling. Chen Wenxiao saw that his father had stopped and immediately went along with it, climbing up from the long bench, "Father, rest assured, son will definitely reform and make a new start."

Chen Wenzong frowned, "Who let you get up?"

Saying this, he rolled up his sleeves, took the whistle stick from Chen Liqin's hand, and swung it down fiercely, "What is 'Zhi'?"

Chen Wenxiao wailed, "Ah! Brother, what are you doing?!"

Chen Wenzong angrily asked, "I ask you, what is 'Zhi'? Answer me!"

Just at this moment, another young servant came running all the way, "Old Master, Prefect Zhang Daren has brought his children to visit."

Chen Liqin frowned, "Why did he come?"

The young servant lowered his head, "This one doesn't know, Zhang Daren didn't say either."

Chen Liqin raised his hand to stop Chen Wenzong, "Don't rush to hit him yet, don't let outsiders see a joke."

But Chen Wenzong didn't pay attention, only swung the whistle stick down himself, "What is 'Xin'?"

Chen Liqin saw the situation and sighed in his heart. He instructed Liang Shi, "I will go to the door to welcome him, don't let Zhang Zhuo come to the back hall."

Chen Ji walked along the secluded path towards the back residence. He returned to Tingquan Courtyard, looked at the courtyard full of tiles and green bricks, then sat down on a stack of green bricks and started to daze.

Hei Yun lightly jumped onto his knee and meowed, "Feeling better?"

Chen Ji propped up his chin, his eyes looking towards the corner of the courtyard, and casually replied, "There's nothing to feel better or not feel better about. Chen Liqin is the kind of person who is reluctant to deal a deadly blow to Chen Wenxiao, and Liang Shi is eloquent and won't do much to Chen Wenxiao. As the saying goes, if there are spoiled children, there are spoiled parents. If they were willing to be ruthless, Chen Wenxiao wouldn't be like this."

Hei Yun thought, "Then I'll go lick all their snacks later, and then poop on Chen Wenxiao's pillow!"

Chen Ji said solemnly, "Fierce!"

"Hehehe."

"Hehehe."

At this time, Hei Yun looked at the messy courtyard, "How to deal with this place? If you clean it alone, I'm afraid it will take two or three days to clean it out."

Chen Ji laughed, "No need, people will naturally come to clean it."

Hei Yun was startled, "Does Chenfu still have such good people?"

Chen Ji patted its head, "Rest assured, from now on, I will often deal with the people of the Chen family, and I will teach them how to be good people."

In front of the Chenfu door, Chen Liqin cupped his hands and welcomed, "Zhang Daren and I have been neighbors for several years, yet you are still a rare guest of my Chenfu. Why did you think of coming here today?"

Zhang Zhuo squinted his eyes and smiled, "Chen Daren's words are full of sarcasm. If outsiders hear it, they will think that the Luocheng government office is not harmonious. Zhang Zheng, Zhang Xia, quickly present the gifts we brought, lest Chen Daren blame our Zhang family for not being thorough in etiquette."

Chen Liqin's beard trembled, "Zhang Daren, why must you speak sarcastically?"

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily, "Chen Daren has overthought. This official did not come to visit you."

Chen Liqin was startled, "Then what is Zhang Daren's intention in coming here?"

Zhang Zhuo curiously asked, "Today there is nothing going on in the government office, so I went to Taiping Medical Hall to seek Chen Ji to play chess. It turns out that when I arrived there, the medical hall was already locked and sealed. I thought carefully, he has nowhere else to go, so he must have returned to Chenfu... Has he returned?"

Chen Liqin breathed a sigh of relief, "He has returned, and he has already settled down in the mansion."

Zhang Zhuo let out a long 'oh' sound, then took Chen Liqin's arm and walked inside, acting more like the master of this Chenfu. "Let's go, Chen Daren, lead me to find him."

Chen Liqin frowned.

Zhang Zhuo seemed not to see his expression and teased with a smile, "Chen Daren, earlier he had a lot of resentment towards Chenfu and was unwilling to return no matter what. Now that he has finally returned, you, as a father, must not be confused again."

Chen Liqin was slightly angry, "I naturally know how to be a parent, no need for Zhang Daren to teach me."

Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard, "Heh, that is I talked too much."

Chen Liqin led Zhang Zhuo towards the inside of the mansion. Liang Shi led two maidservants and had already been waiting on the road.

She only saw her loosely cupped fists and performed the Wanfu ceremony at her right rib, "Zhang Daren."

Zhang Zhuo smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, my wife often misses inviting you to Tuoluosi Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings. Our two families should visit each other more when we have leisure, don't stay cooped up in this Chenfu."

Liang Shi smiled slightly, "Your concubine will respectfully follow Zhang Daren's instructions."

Zhang Zhuo said no more and continued walking inside with Chen Liqin.

Liang Shi curiously asked, "Old Master, where are you going with Zhang Daren?"

Chen Liqin explained, "Zhang Daren formed a friendship with Chen Ji at Taiping Medical Hall earlier, and the two became chess friends across ages. Now he has come to seek Chen Ji to play chess to relieve boredom. Madam, quickly brew some good tea and send it to Chen Ji's residence later, do not neglect Zhang Daren."

Liang Shi's face changed slightly, and she lowered her head to perform the Wanfu ceremony again, "Your concubine knows, but Chen Ji has just moved in there, and I'm afraid there aren't enough tables and chairs for so many people to sit. It's better for the Old Master to lead Zhang Daren to the study, and I will call Chen Ji over."

Zhang Zhuo was thoughtful.

Before he could speak, Zhang Xia suddenly said, "Aunt, there is no need to trouble. I am familiar with Chen Ji, and it will be more comfortable in his courtyard."

Liang Shi smiled gently, "Zhang Er Xiaojie should be waiting in her boudoir. It may be improper to go to Chen Ji's room."

Zhang Xia sized up Liang Shi with a glance, and smiled gently, "Aunt has overthought. I have my father and elder brother accompanying me. Anyone who dares to gossip about my father and elder brother will be flayed."

Zhang Zheng happily said, "Exactly!"

Just at this moment, a wailing sound came from the depths of the residence. Zhang Xia looked left and right to find the sound, "What is this sound? Is Chenfu punishing servants today?"

Chen Liqin's face sank, and he quickly led the way forward, "Today, the mansion servants violated the rules, and I just asked the steward to teach them properly. Zhang Daren, this way please."

Several people passed through the deep courtyards and arrived in front of Tingquan Courtyard.

Chen Liqin pushed the door and went inside, just seeing Chen Ji holding Hei Yun in his arms, sitting on two stacks of green bricks in a daze.

At this moment, Chen Liqin looked at the courtyard, which was like ruins, and froze in place.

Zhang Zhuo was also shocked. He walked into the courtyard, looked left and right, then quickly took a few steps and pushed open the wooden door of the main room, revealing tables, chairs, and benches piled up messily inside.

He turned back in astonishment, "Chen Daren, if your Chenfu cannot accommodate an illegitimate son, then adopt him to me. My Zhangfu can accommodate him."

Chen Liqin opened his mouth but couldn't say anything for a long time. He slowly looked towards Chen Ji, his throat dry, "You..."

Chen Ji quickly stood up, "Chen Daren, I didn't expect noble guests to visit, I have lost my etiquette... I will go clean the courtyard now."

Chen Liqin supported the door frame, turned his head and stared at Liang Shi for a long time, weighed it again and again, and slowly said, "It must be that the mansion servants misunderstood the arrangements."

Liang Shi understood and quickly said sternly to the maidservants, "Call the steward here. I clearly arranged for Chen Ji to be in Mingquan Courtyard, why did he lead Chen Ji to Tingquan Courtyard? Is this how he usually does things?"